Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles BATTLE for Intercontinental Title in Paris: Raw Recap, Sept. 1, 2025

Summary

Raw Recap with Sam Roberts & Megan Morant

Episode Title: Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles BATTLE for Intercontinental Title in Paris
Release Date: September 1, 2025

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Episode Overview

This week's episode offers a lively, in-depth recap of an action-packed Monday Night Raw in Paris, with hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant dissecting the show’s major storylines, character dynamics, crowd reactions, and backstage intrigue. Highlights include the escalating drama between CM Punk, Becky Lynch, and Seth Rollins, Dominik Mysterio’s battle with AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Title, tag team division shakeups, and a guest appearance from Grayson Waller, fresh off his six-man tag team match. The episode is rich with speculation about the road to WrestlePalooza and delivers clever, authentic commentary in the hosts’ trademark energetic style.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. The Parisian Fallout: Punk, Rollins & Becky Lynch Take Center Stage

[01:26 - 16:40]

• Punk’s Night-Long Waiting Game: Punk waited in the arena parking lot for hours hoping for Seth Rollins to arrive, leading to entertaining speculation from the hosts about how staff kept checking in on him (03:09 - 03:24).
• Classic Wrestling Callback: Sam celebrates Punk’s throwback move—setting up a chair in the ring and refusing to leave until his rival appears, “I love stuff like that. Punk was just like, nope, ...everything stops right now until Seth Rollins gets out here.” (04:15)
• Becky Lynch’s Mimicry & Strut: Becky cosplays Seth’s entrance, nailed his swagger, and commands the ring, with Sam noting, “She had Seth down to a T.” Megan gushes, “I thought it was hilarious... Punk was looking for the man, Seth Rollins. But first he has to deal with Becky Lynch.” (05:21)
• Mic Showdown—Power Dynamics: The duo dives into the real-life implications of Becky confronting Punk, referencing history of CM Punk chants overshadowing other performers ("The crowd was chanting CM Punk. CM Punk. It wasn’t a reflection of the performances...It was a reflection of the man who was not there." – Sam, 08:01).
• Becky’s Loyalty & Family Ties: The discussion pivots to Becky defending her husband: “That’s my husband. That’s the father of my child. That's the greatest man that I know. Which is what a wife should say...” (Sam, 10:11)
• Physicality Escalates: Becky wallops Punk, the crowd explodes, and Sam points out, “She’s not trying to bring out the best at CM Punk. She’s driving him to the point of madness.” (15:07)
• Speculation on Mixed Tag Match: Both hosts echo the fandom’s desire for a blockbuster mixed tag: “We gotta get this mixed tag...I want the mixed tag. You understand how big of a deal this mixtag [would be]...” (Sam, 15:21)

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2. Evolution of “The Vision” Faction & Paul Heyman’s Changing Role

[20:03 - 22:17]

• Paul Heyman’s Absence: Sam addresses Heyman’s storyline medical hiatus after being choked by Roman Reigns.
• Power Dynamics Shift: “Paul Heyman does not have a vision. Seth Rollins has a vision and Paul Heyman’s duty is to help execute it. Paul Heyman is not puppeteering Seth Rollins.” (Sam, 20:55)
• Role of New Blood: Bron Breaker & Bronson Reed are established as “soldiers” benefiting from The Vision’s direction, with Heyman acting as their mentor figure (21:09).

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3. Bloodline Family Business: Jey & Jimmy Uso Reunite

[22:23 - 36:08]

• Jey Uso’s Character Growth: Transitioning from tag team follower to independent leader, Jay’s more somber, purpose-driven return is analyzed: “No yeet T shirt... No big smiles... he stepped up into this leadership position.” (24:42-25:08)
• Jay’s Perspective on Family: Accepting a new role as a protector/leader, Sam notes, “Jay’s calling the plays now... more important than anything. Don’t disrespect my family.”
• LA Knight Confrontation: LA Knight blames Jey for costing him the title opportunity. The hosts dissect the flawed logic—every challenger’s true goal is becoming champion independently, not just dethroning Seth (27:32-28:30).
• Main Event Dynamics: Bron Breaker & Bronson Reed dominate, reinforcing their “threat level” and post-match brutality (“It’s not just losing to them that’s the threat. It’s what happens after the match... I might be taken out of the industry.” – Megan, 31:23)
• Uso Reunion: Emotional moment as Jimmy emerges to save Jey, teasing a new “Usos 4.0 Super Team.” “All that said, Jay looking up at Jimmy at the end of the show going, I can't do it. I can't do it alone. I need you...The idea that we may see them together... is a... coolest thing.” (35:01)

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4. Grayson Waller Interview: Locker Room Politics & Tag Division Turmoil

[40:11 - 57:37]

• Post-Match Frustration: Grayson bemoans his loss, criticizes the danger of the Mexican Destroyer move, and jokes about the quality of French doctors: “The Mexican Destroyer should be banned. ...Do they even have doctors in France?” (40:41)
• Petition Shenanigans: Updates on his real and kayfabe petition to ban dangerous moves, now with tens of thousands of “online” supporters (44:15).
• New Day Dynamics: Waller hints at becoming a full-fledged New Day member, humorously trashes former partner Austin Theory ("He was reading the Cat in the Hat, and he was struggling...")
• Tag Team Philosophy: Expresses admiration for the New Day legacy and vows to bring back the “old New Day,” criticizing Judgment Day’s lack of title defenses and mocking the modern tag division (49:24-49:37).
• Lucha Banter/Antagonism: Launches into an anti-lucha tirade, elevates Dominik Mysterio as the “King of the Luchadors,” and speculates about banishing masked wrestlers (51:35-52:00).
• Parisian Observations: Jokes about French fashion, hats, and banoffee pie, while tossing in digs at Sam’s action figure status and Megan’s comparative intelligence.
• Perth Preview: Waller is hyped for WWE’s televised return “home” to Australia, ready for “the show of his life” (56:04).

Notable Quotes:

• “The New Day have really introduced me to some new variations of hat. ...you can’t just go to a store and get those kind of hats. You need to talk to people.” (Grayson, 53:34)
• “I've never been more excited for a show in my life. ... My dream has always been to wrestle for WWE in Australia.” (Grayson, 56:04)

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5. Intercontinental Title Drama: Dominik vs. AJ Styles

[60:45 - 68:41]

• Dominik’s Surprising Longevity: Sam marvels at how, even as the crowd desperately wanted to see a Parisian AJ Styles win, Dominik continues to successfully defend: “I want to talk about... The magic moment was Dominik retaining” (61:06).
• Adam Pearce’s Vendetta: Megan and Sam lampoon Pearce’s frequent attempts to undermine Dominik, such as banning Judgment Day from ringside for unrelated interference, yet Dominik always finds a way: “He’s resourceful… He probably could [win solo]. He just decided—‘I mean, I’m cooler with friends.’” (63:52-64:28)
• Grande Americano’s Involvement: Sam details the masked ally's crucial role, then teases the possibility of Dominik becoming a double champion at Worlds Collide.
• Validation of Dominik’s Reign: After defending against AJ twice, his legitimacy as Intercontinental Champ is cemented: “Fool me twice, you can’t fool me again... What could possibly stop Dominic from defeating Vikingo if AJ Styles...couldn’t?” (66:12, 66:25)

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6. RussellPalooza Speculation: Women’s World Title Scene

[70:45 - 74:44]

• First Official Match Announced: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vacair for the vacant Women’s World Championship at WrestlePalooza, with Naomi sidelined due to pregnancy.
• Clustered Alliances: The hosts analyze the shifting allegiances among Iyo, the Kabuki Warriors, and the enigmatic Asuka (“Nobody is ready for Asuka, including Asuka.” – Sam, 73:11).
• Rhea Ripley’s Position: Megan reads into Rhea’s “friendly” tactics as strategic, not genuine affection, given championship aspirations.

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7. Other Noteworthy Segments

• Paris Crowd Celebration: The Paris fans’ enthusiasm, songs, and coordinated chants get praise throughout.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “This version of Becky Lynch, especially after delivering the low blow to CM Punk, she’s not going to be able to manipulate any crowd to cheer for her.” (Megan, 07:18)
  • “It's such a great piece of this evolutionary story of the Usos in WWE. The idea that we may see them together as a team again...the coolest thing." (Sam, 36:08)
• Teased Future Matches: Hints at dream scenarios like Becky/Seth vs. Punk/AJ Lee, A.J. Styles vs. Grande Americano, and more Uso tag action.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Becky & Punk’s Confrontation:
  “She’s not trying to bring out the best at CM Punk. She’s driving him to the point of madness.” (Sam, 15:07)
• On Dominik Mysterio’s Appeal:
  “This Don Mysterio intercontinental title run is legendary.” (Sam, 60:45)
• On the Mixed Tag Speculation:
  “We gotta get this mixed tag...I want the mixed tag...It’s the same name on the tip of everybody’s tongue.” (Sam, 15:21)
• Grayson Waller on the New Day:
  “I feel so good. I’m in the best shape of my life...It’s nice now, the New Day, helping me out, taking care of me. They’re showing me how things work.” (Grayson, 45:00)

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Key Timestamps

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ | | Paris fallout: Punk, Rollins, Becky drama | 01:26 - 16:40 | | “The Vision” & Paul Heyman role change | 20:03 - 22:17 | | Uso family, Jay's journey & reunion with Jimmy | 22:23 - 36:08 | | Grayson Waller interview (tag politics, New Day, theory) | 40:11 - 57:37 | | Dominik vs AJ Styles – Intercontinental Title | 60:45 - 68:41 | | WrestlePalooza Women's World Title speculation | 70:45 - 74:44 |

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Final Thoughts

This episode rides the post-Paris wave, delivering insightful, playful dissection of interpersonal WWE feuds and crowd moments, while keeping an eye toward future matchups and pay-per-view intrigue. The chemistry between Sam and Megan ensures discussion stays lively, accessible, and always fun—even in speculative or kayfabe-heavy territory.

For RAW fans or those wanting to quickly catch up:

• The episode is a must for context on current WWE main event arcs, especially the intertwining sagas of CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, the Bloodline, and Dominik Mysterio.
• Delivers authentic superstar perspectives via the Grayson Waller interview
• Provides both storyline speculation and insight into real backstage locker room culture.

Don’t miss: The opening breakdown of the Paris crowd, the Punk/Becky/Lynch confrontation (and its meta commentary on wrestling audiences), and Grayson Waller’s antics.

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Transcript

[Grayson Waller]

David.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. Have you ever noticed that the way we use our phones is ironic? Phones are for connection, but we look at them more than we look at each other. 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.

[Grayson Waller]

That's right. A phone company wanting people to use.

[Sam Roberts]

Their phones, less ironic. A phone company wanting people to use their phones, less ironic. 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? Have Seth Rollins and Becky lynch pushed Punk past the point of no return? Jimmy and Jey USO seem to be back on same page for the first time in a long time. Dominic Mysterio, still your Intercontinental champion Grayson Waller is on the show. The first match announced for Wrestle Palooza and so much more. This is the WWE RAW recap. A WWE and Fanatics original production. I mean, Megan. Megan.

[Megan Morant]

We're back again, baby.

[Sam Roberts]

They're talking. Streets is talking. Welcome to RAW Recap. So much to recap here. So much going down. It was taking up more pages in my notebook than it usually does to try to keep track of everything that's going on. It definitely feels like Wrestle Palooza season is becoming a thing very quickly.

[Megan Morant]

I didn't know that was was going to be on our calendar, but here we are.

[Sam Roberts]

Here we are all of a sudden. Quick season, but a season nonetheless. And all of a sudden this whole new world of possibilities in the last two days, two romantic evenings in Paris have brought enough this whole new buffet of possibilities in wwe.

[Megan Morant]

And I mean it's a good time to speculate wildly.

[Sam Roberts]

It's the perfect time to speculate wildly. Although I have not yet found a bad time to speculate wildly. But I'll let you know. I'm sure eventually it'll happen this time though for sure. Especially with the fact that Becky lynch, who maybe you know, had had a lot going on behind the scenes through her relationship with Seth Rollins and a lot of feelings to use that word about CM Punk, but was letting that story be told on its own, is now a full, I mean, pillar of the CM Punk, Seth Rollins story. So your thoughts when CM Punk, he's waiting out in the parking lot all night long waiting for Seth Rollins car to pull up. I mean he is waiting so long for that car to pull up, his friends are just coming up to him in the parking lot just to pass the time. Cause it's literally been hours. Adam Pierce comes to him.

[Megan Morant]

You think they're all backstage, like, hey, someone go check on punk.

[Sam Roberts]

100%.

[Megan Morant]

Guys go, no, you already went.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I went a half hour ago. Somebody else want to visit him. Like, he's in a really bad spot right now. He's very angry. I don't want to say that. Adam Pierce has no control over his show.

[Megan Morant]

Be careful.

[Sam Roberts]

He gets very upset. But then Adam Pierce goes to CM Punk and goes, I don't know. He's here. I don't even know where the doors are in this building. But Seth Rollins is apparently already here. I don't know. Maybe he slept over from the night before at Clash in Paris. Maybe, I don't know. But he got there without going through the main entrance, which Punk was like, okay, Punk goes to the ring. And I. It's been a while. This used to be kind of a staple in professional wrestling, where it'd be like, I'm. I'm setting up a chair and I'm going to sit here in the ring. You're going to have to just do the show around me because I'm going to sit here in the ring until the person that I want to speak to comes out. And I love stuff like that. I love that. Punk was just like, nope, you're going to have to. You're going to have to. We'll sing, we'll dance, will put on a show, but everything stops right now until Seth Rollins gets out here.

[Megan Morant]

Well, to be honest with you, I was not going to turn my TV off until we heard from Rollins, Punk and Becky Lynch. Right after what happened last night, I could not go on with the week without hearing from them on Raw.

[Sam Roberts]

No. Some kind of explanation where things stand. How are we feeling? Something, but it takes no time at all. The minute, like, it interrupts him, Seth's music just starts playing. Megan, how did you feel when the man comes out and does, I mean, put every Seth Rollins cosplayer to shame? It wasn't so much the. The outfit. Cause she looked like something, you know, Becky lynch would wear. She's the man. Although, as we've noticed, the Seth Rollins Tron matches whatever color Seth Rollins is wearing. And it matched Becky's attire.

[Megan Morant]

It's all in the details, right?

[Sam Roberts]

100%. It's all in the details. And I guess it's all in the Rollins lynch family. But coming out, doing the strut, the pose, the fingers, the interactions, she had Seth down to a T. How did you feel when Becky lynch comes out I felt incredible. You did?

[Megan Morant]

I thought it was hilarious the way she did Seth's entrance. I loved how she's the man. And Punk was looking for the man, Seth Rollins. But first he has to deal with Becky Lynch. It's tough to make Seth's entrance look better than Seth makes it look, but I think Becky is pretty darn close.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. If anybody's going to be able to do it.

[Megan Morant]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

I think she's watched a lot of Seth Rollins entrances. They come. It's a package deal.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

With this Becky Lynch, Seth Ron. That's one of those, like, I feel like this is one of those power couples that you didn't know was a power couple until they're ready to, like, pull the curtain back and go, no, it's been us the whole time, you fool. Didn't you know? So Becky gets in the ring face to face, all bravado with CM Punk. CM Punk. You know, all due respect, and I.

[Megan Morant]

Was really thinking about it a lot last night after we witnessed what happened. Becky lynch delivers the low blow to CM Punk. And, you know, we go on the Internet and we see all the rumors. AJ Lee, cm, we want a mix tag team match. And yes, I want that just as much as all of the fans on the Internet want that. But what I really wanted was to see Becky lynch and CM Punk on the mic in the ring together.

[Sam Roberts]

But yes, however, it's got to be settled somewhere.

[Megan Morant]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

Can't you stay on a mic?

[Megan Morant]

I know, but I was looking forward to the first battle of words.

[Sam Roberts]

So you're saying these two before we get to.

[Megan Morant]

Before we start fantasy booking all these matches, can you just give me Becky lynch and CM Punk on the mic immediately?

[Sam Roberts]

Give me the single before we round home.

[Megan Morant]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

I see.

[Megan Morant]

I was so excited. As I see Becky making her way up the stairs, I go, oh, we're gonna get it.

[Sam Roberts]

Although when was the. When was the last time Becky lynch walked in a room that you.

[Megan Morant]

That's a very good point. It's a very good point. And I was thinking because last week we sat in this very studio and we said, oh, Becky did it again. She tricked the crowd.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, when she was manipulating.

[Megan Morant]

Manipulating the crowd to cheer for her and then she slams them. This version of Becky lynch, especially after delivering the low blow to CM Punk, she's not going to be able to manipulate any crowd to cheer for her.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, it's. Yeah, it's very interesting because, like, CM Punk is that. I mean, there's no Crowd in the world. We can now say in the world because we're going cross continental with this. There's no crowd in the world right now that's going to boost CM Punk because it's still so amazing that he's back.

[Megan Morant]

I mean, the fact that a week ago Becky lynch was able to manipulate crowds into cheering for her for just a moment before she trashed them, to tonight they're saying, shut the F up. That's crazy.

[Sam Roberts]

She earned it. She earned it. And that's CM Punk. That's the magic of CM Punk. And that answers Becky Lynch's question that, that, that addresses her issue, which is do you think you're the only person, you think Seth is the only person that was affected by you leaving? No, no, no, no, no. When I was wrestling, they were chanting your name and, and, and just proving that they didn't care about anything that I was doing and blah, blah. And I get it. You know, I understand the frustration that a performer must feel if you can go back all those years ago. First of all, living in the past is a little dangerous, but if you can go back all those years ago, I'm sure that there was a massive frustration when no matter what you do, cuz that's what was going on at that time. Whether it was Becky lynch early in her career, whether it was anybody, they could have done anything in that ring that they wanted. The crowd was chanting CM Punk. CM Punk. It wasn't a reflection of the performances that were happening at the time. It was a reflection of the man who was not there. And Becky lynch and many, many, many performers had to suffer through that. But at the same time, that's hardly Punk's responsibility. I mean, can you imagine being like, I'm unhappy at this job, but I'm going to stay because they'll yell my name at my own, you know, former co worker, like, what kind of like weirdo like, look, no, I want to go, but they're gonna shout my name at you if I go, so I better stay. Like, that's nuts. Like, if it's time to go, it's time to go.

[Megan Morant]

And you gotta imagine Punk sitting at his couch, loving that everybody's chanting his name.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, I would, yeah, I would think it was great if I, if they, if I. 10 years, if I left this podcast and you and whoever they put you on with. People were just shouting at the podcast. Yeah, I'd be like, look, I like Megan, I'm sorry she has to deal with that. But from this perspective, this is Fantastic.

[Megan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

And she also said, look, and this is true. And this is something that people. This one I buy into more than the. I get it. The frustration with that. But that's not. You can't blame the other performer on that.

[Megan Morant]

When she was saying, you guys always chant for dopes who don't even work here.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no, no, no, no. The original.

[Megan Morant]

I did like that line.

[Sam Roberts]

It was a great line. The original thing, though, of, you know, what you've said about Seth, like, that's my husband. That's the father of my child. When you say, that's the. That's the greatest man that I know. Which is what a wife should say about their husband. When you say something about somebody's partner, it affects them, too. So this idea that this Seth Punk rivalry that got very, very personal and expanded outside, extended outside of WWE could ever just exist between Punk and Seth, I guess, is naive when you think about it. And I don't think any of us consider that until Becky goes straight up, yeah, that's my family you're talking about. And you go, oh, yeah, it is. I'm with you. Seeing them, like, face to face like that. And like, Becky, I mean, chin up in the air, not backing down whatsoever. Punk hitting her back and hitting Seth back hard.

[Megan Morant]

And Punk was, like, not literally hitting.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, Becky was literally hitting. But, but, but Punk was, like, very sort of deliberate in his. I do not have a problem with you. Stop trying to make me have a problem with you. My problem is with Seth and now he is hiding behind his wife. I'm not saying you're just his wife. I. You. You are the man and, like, giving her all due respect, but I need to beat up your husband. It said, Punk is in an odd situation.

[Megan Morant]

But here's the problem that I don't know if Punk has completely understood yet. If he has a problem with Seth that has gone to this level, he also has a problem with Becky. Their two are not interchangeable.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, great. Guess what? Punk's got friends and family as well. You know what I mean? I don't. And I. At a point, it's like, can you imagine? That's another thing. It's like the chanting the name. Can you imagine if, like, you had a problem with me? But you better keep your mouth shut because you don't want to upset my wife. Like, it'd be like, what are you talking about? No, I. I understand. The wife is going to be upset about this. It is what it is. You know what I mean?

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Like, this is what it Is. And. And so Becky's not wrong, but also, like, the idea that Punk would not have this issue because Seth's family would be upset about it is ludicrous.

[Megan Morant]

Now, as you know, as all the listeners know, I always try to defend Becky lynch because she is the greatest.

[Sam Roberts]

According to who?

[Megan Morant]

Myself.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay.

[Megan Morant]

Other people and Sports Illustrated.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, I forgot. I didn't see the Sports Illustrated thing.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, it's a big deal. It's a big deal. But, you know, I was watching Becky put Punk in his place, and it occurred to me that Becky once again is trying to bring out the best in Punk. He calls himself the best.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

[Megan Morant]

So when Rollins beats Punk again.

[Sam Roberts]

Now you're a Seth Rollins guy.

[Megan Morant]

I think I have to be. By marriage. By marriage?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. That they're, like, putting it front and center.

[Megan Morant]

I think I have to be.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. No, no, no. I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm not this. As I'm with you. Like, I agree with you. I understand the predicament. You're a loyal person.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, yeah, I'm in a predicament. This is about me.

[Sam Roberts]

This is because you're a good person, ultimately.

[Megan Morant]

Thank you.

[Sam Roberts]

That you have to. But I mean, bro, when she. It was one thing when Seth says. Seth comes out after Punk drops the line about, you know, Seth hiding behind his wife, which, by the way, don't forget. Like, I think it was, you know, was it raw at Madison Square Garden, maybe the week before Madison Square Garden, beginning of the year? Punk had said something about Seth's wife, and it drove Seth mad. It was before. It was like a month or two. It was before WrestleMania for sure. But it drove. It drove Seth nuts. This isn't Unchartered Waters, but Seth comes out clearly with the confidence of somebody who knows they're in control of a situation. And it's like, just come. Come down here and say it. When Becky started standing in front of Punk, I was like, what a game they're playing. What a game. This is the confidence. This is why they're both confident. And then Becky finally lets Punk past her, but Seth walks away. Punk is like, oh. Oh, he's turning beet red. And then Becky, like, man, it's one thing. It's one thing to do the kind of theater slap, right? The one theater slap. We've seen it on every show. Whatever.

[Megan Morant]

The whole crowd gasps.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, my clutch, my pearls. I mean, when Becky hits him in the face, starts punching him in the chest, and then just starts walloping back and forth Back and forth. What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? Just driving him. She's not trying to bring out the best at CM Punk. She's driving him to the point of madness.

[Megan Morant]

There's not one thing he can do well.

[Sam Roberts]

He says, I'm going to make you regret putting your hands on me. He said, I'm going to make Seth regret cashing in on me. And I'm going to make you regret putting your hands on me.

[Megan Morant]

Buckle up.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, Megan, I'll say from my point of view as a fan, we got to get this mixed tag.

[Megan Morant]

I know.

[Sam Roberts]

I want the mixed tag. You understand how big of a deal this mixtag that everybody in Paris is chanting the same name. Everybody on the Internet is saying the same name. Everybody. I mean, forget about it. Smackdown's in Chicago. Oh, RAW is back in the States next week. It's all like. It's the same name on the tip of everybody's tongue.

[Megan Morant]

And that name has been coming up since before the Royal Rumble. That was a name rumored a lot in the Royal Rumble. If we get that name in this situation, it's going to be better than any of us could have ever imagined.

[Sam Roberts]

It's the situation for it to happen in. Oh, I mean, I can't. It has. I. It's almost like you don't even want to. It's like on Christmas when you really want a bicycle and you see a bicycle shaped present that's all wrapped up and you're like, I don't even want to talk about it or acknowledge it.

[Megan Morant]

The best is when you open the presents, there's no bicycle, and then you're a little bummed. Are you bummed you didn't get everything you wanted? No, it was great. Well, there's one more gift. The best.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, I mean, you almost don't want to fully acknowledge, but, I mean, it's so thick in the air right now, it's crazy. And you know what? You know who wasn't? Who? You know, we. We talked about this here. We talked about it as we were watching the show together. How great this segment was between Punk and Becky and Seth, you know, his name didn't come up once.

[Megan Morant]

Paul Heyman at all. No.

[Sam Roberts]

Which is really interesting. I have a lot of thoughts on that. You know, Paul Heyman, they said he had to go to a hospital after Roman Reigns choked him out. They said he had larynx problems. I said, that's crazy because Paul Heyman, you know, he needs specific doctors, but he's all the Way out in Paris. Like, how would they have even found a place to take him? And then you know what I realized? I think they're all using Zoc Doc. Have you heard about this?

[Megan Morant]

I actually use Zoc Doc.

[Sam Roberts]

Really?

[Megan Morant]

Not even kidding.

[Sam Roberts]

So Zoc Doc is a free app and website where you can search and compare high quality in network doctors. Because Paul Heyman likes his doctors in network. And you can just click right on the app right there to instantly book an appointment. It's got like 100,000 doctors. Every specialties broken larynxes from the tribal chief choking you out.

[Megan Morant]

And it shows you if they're accepting new patients, which is a big one.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, so talk to me. So you go. You go, what? I need a doctor.

[Megan Morant]

I've moved a lot of times, don't always have the references to get the good doctors. It's a hassle to call. Do you accept this insurance? Are you in network? Are you out of network? Are you accepting new patients? You just take a picture of your insurance card or upload it right to the app. What do you need? You need a dentist, you need an orthopedic, you need a pediatrician, Whatever you need. Zoc Doc shows you all of them.

[Sam Roberts]

It rips that excuse.

[Megan Morant]

You can even make the appointment on the app.

[Sam Roberts]

That's what he said.

[Megan Morant]

Call anybody.

[Sam Roberts]

And you click it there, right?

[Megan Morant]

Which honestly, if I have to call someone, probably not going to make the appointment. Now put it on the app. No problem.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, you get the. Okay, that's the phone number. Okay, now I have it. You never do the appointment?

[Megan Morant]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

If you click it and then it's like on your calendar to speak to somebody. I can't do it. Can't do it. Social anxiety kicks in. Never. Now it's on the calendar and it's almost like Zach Doc knows you made the appointment, so you have to go. I'm not going to disappoint Zach Doc. No, you know, they would know. And also, by the way, it happens fast, typically within just 24 to 72 hours of booking. That is how quick these appointments get made. More often than not, you can even get same day appointments. You got to stop putting off doctor's appointments. I've been putting off these doctor's appointments so much.

[Megan Morant]

Don't do it.

[Sam Roberts]

You know what I mean? Like, my doctor retired. I think it was because they saw the monstrosity that is this, and they were like, I'm out of the profession. And so I go, well, I guess if the doctor retired, I'm done going to the Doctor. No, it's not an excuse anymore. Because of Zoc Doc.

[Megan Morant]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. You can't put off doctor's appointments anymore. Stop putting off the doctor appointments and go to zoc.zocdoc.com rawrecap to find an instantly book a top rated doctor today that z o c doc.com raw recap zoc doc.com raw recap and you too can be just like Megan Morant and Paul Heyman. Healthy with a fixed larynx. I feel like I'm sure you could.

[Megan Morant]

Find a larynx specialist on zocnock.

[Sam Roberts]

There's no doubt in my mind. I'm probably easier than anywhere else in the world, I would imagine. Paul Heyman's impact, I feel like was felt because it's interesting. You know, the Vision is not only the name of this Seth Rollins group, but it's something that, that comes up. It's their, it's their goal, it's their mantra. It's why they do what they do. And you know, it came up with Becky lynch saying that we have a vision. And you see this right for the first time in a Paul Heyman group. And we've talked about this before, that this was the vibe that I got. But I feel like we're really getting confirmation. Paul Heyman does not have a vision. Seth Rollins has a vision, and Paul Heyman's duty is to help execute it. Paul Heyman is not puppeteering Seth Rollins.

[Megan Morant]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

Or Becky Lynch. Becky lynch and Seth Rollins have this thing over here that they believe this is the direction things need to go in. And it's like, hey, Paul, this is where it's going. If you want to be on board, then be on board. But if not, we're doing it.

[Megan Morant]

And Paul obviously agrees with Seth's vision, which includes Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right. And so Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed strike me as the soldiers in here because they directly benefit from the Vision as they're looked at as the future. And I think they're, they're the ones too. I think Paul Heyman has a way of kind of getting the, the younger superstars kind of under his wing and making them Paul Heyman guys.

[Megan Morant]

I mean, Michael Cole referred to it as his next meal ticket yesterday.

[Sam Roberts]

I think that's Michael Cole sometimes out of pocket.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, I think that's sort of brash. But so it almost is like Seth is in charge of the entire thing and Heyman is overseeing Braun and Bronson.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know. I don't know. I mean, there are a lot of questions there that have to be right now. I think Paul Heyman just is overseeing getting his larynx fixed.

[Megan Morant]

Priorities.

[Sam Roberts]

Right, Right.

[Megan Morant]

I also wonder the relationship between Paul Heyman and Becky lynch, what is that like?

[Sam Roberts]

I would love to know. I would love to know. We're not going to know right now because the larynx, you know, he's the. He's getting it fixed.

[Megan Morant]

We also did get a medical update on the tribal chief Roman Reigns. Several broken ribs will be out indefinitely.

[Sam Roberts]

Out indefinitely. So who knows? I think the last time we heard out indefinitely was what, after the Royal Rumble and then he was back at that Madison Square Garden Raw, I want to say, which was post elimination chamber. So, I mean, who knows at this point, but the people who did that to Roman Reigns were of course, Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed. Now Jimmy uso starts the show tonight on Raw and it's a different Jimmy uso. And I think we talked about this kind of after Clash that Jey uso. I'm sorry, Jay. Yeah, Jimmy, wait a second. I mean, it was a different Jimmy uso because we saw it was a different Jimmy uso. You know what I mean? The fact that we ended with Jimmy Uso.

[Megan Morant]

Jimmy Uso ends the show. Jey Uso starts the show.

[Sam Roberts]

Jey Uso begins 100%. Right. And I think we were talking about this yesterday that like, to me it was a very different Jey Uso in the Fatal 4 way. It was a very different Jey Uso when he got advice from Roman Reigns. The Raw before Clash in Paris, even seeing Jay come out and he's dressed.

[Megan Morant]

In black, no yeet T shirt.

[Sam Roberts]

No yeet T shirt. He's still yeeting. He's still Jay uso. He's still coming through the crowd. Paris, by the way, once again, you'd think they'd be exhausted from all this cheering. But still on another level, it's one thing, see, in America, we yeet along with Jay and we do that for him in Paris. Not only are they yeeting, they're singing the lyrics to the song. They're singing the song with the song. It's just me loose.

[Megan Morant]

They won't.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Morant]

I mean, you only come to Paris so often. They've probably been practicing this, waiting for.

[Sam Roberts]

Their opportunity in a all together as a group or have they individually been practicing individualized.

[Megan Morant]

It's gotta be individual. We'll all get together. I mean, that'd be something though if it was like, hey, everybody Meet us under the. Meet up.

[Sam Roberts]

Meet us under the arc de triumph.

[Megan Morant]

We're going to practice the J song. Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

We're going to sing the lyrics.

[Megan Morant]

It'd be amazing.

[Sam Roberts]

We're going to. Because that's also something that would happen.

[Megan Morant]

During COVID Like, people would open their windows and sing songs.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right. To pay tribute to the first responders.

[Megan Morant]

Can you imagine if they started singing Jay USO song? Sick be the best. But it was a very different Jay uso. No yeet T shirt yeeting along with the crowd. But not big smiles on Jay uso's face.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no. Still, like, you know, I'm riding with you guys and everything, but we're not going to run it back. He said, no, run it back because we got things to do. And just talking about really, like. And it's really interesting because Jay went from a place where his family ties. He knew how important they were. He knew that this is who he had to stick with. But, like, it was a very toxic thing.

[Megan Morant]

Family's complicated, right?

[Sam Roberts]

Several years ago. Yeah. Whereas now I feel like he stepped up into this leadership position and realizes that he has a role not as a follower but as a leader in his family to the point where he sees something happening to his cousin Roman. Something happened. You know, for the longest time, people said the bloodline story is really about Jay, and Jay's gotta be the next tribal chief and Jay's gotta beat Roman reigns and Jay's gotta beat this. What if we're witnessing it now? Like, like, you know what I mean? What if, like, Jay is finally in the position where there's no, like, oh, Roman's getting hurt, but he's the captain. He's qb. So unless he call the play, I'm not doing it. Like, if he called the play, I'm coming out. But if he didn't call the play, I'm not coming out. Jay's calling the plays now. Jay's coming out to help Roman or whoever it is in his family that needs help. But Jay stepping up and going, like, more important than anything. Don't disrespect my family. Don't talk about my family. Don't put your hands on my family.

[Megan Morant]

And that's what happens when you're elevated to the level of becoming a world heavyweight champion. And as Jay said tonight on Raw, you know, he expected to walk in tonight as the world heavyweight champion, and that's why he was very disappointed. Not only did his cousin get taken out and sent to the hospital.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Megan Morant]

But he did not arrive at RAW with the World Heavyweight Championship.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. And I think Jay sees himself now more in that space with, you have, you know, the Roman Umaga Yokozuna offense Seeka like. Like those people, Rikishi, who led. Who led that family tree in different generations. I think Jay is now seeing, like, oh, I have a spot up there in that leader position, and I'm frustrated on the title. I'm frustrated. My family's being disrespected and I want revenge. It gets interrupted. Louisiana Knight comes out. And again, Louisiana Knight was not wrong.

[Megan Morant]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

Louisiana Knight explains that he has a problem with Jey USO because Jay stopped him from winning.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, I mean, essentially, LA Knight points out the fact that everything could have been avoided had Jey uso not done what he did.

[Sam Roberts]

But what's ever. What's everything?

[Megan Morant]

Seth Rollins retaining the World Heavyweight Championship.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, but if LA Knight is the World Heavyweight Champion, how is that any different from J for Jay uso? Jay USO didn't come on raw. And this is the part that, like, of the whole conversation about that Fatal Four way that I feel like LA Knight is not acknowledging that Jay didn't come out and say there was one goal to just have Seth Rollins not be the champion. Neither LA Knight nor Jay USO nor CM Punk said, the only goal here is for Seth Rollins to not be the champion. The goal of all three of those men was to be the champion instead of Seth Rollins.

[Megan Morant]

And we're positive that was the goal because CM Punk went to each of them and sort of dangled the carrot.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Morant]

And offered, hey, listen, we know there's no champions advantage in a Fatal Four way match. What if we get the title off Seth and everybody decided it was every.

[Sam Roberts]

Man for themselves because how are you going to agree? It's crazy to go like it is.

[Megan Morant]

It's nuts.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, yeah, you can have the title. Why am I in this Fatal Four way then?

[Megan Morant]

No, it is nuts. And that's a good point about LA Knight coming out and saying all of this could have been avoided.

[Sam Roberts]

Not for Jay.

[Megan Morant]

Louisiana would have been champion.

[Sam Roberts]

And then Jay comes out exactly the same way, saying exactly the same thing.

[Megan Morant]

So nothing is avoided.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. Except LA Knight would have been.

[Megan Morant]

Yes, the champion and Vision looks very different.

[Sam Roberts]

Sure. But Jay's still mad and Roman's still in the hospital. Roman still in the hospital.

[Megan Morant]

Paul's still in the hospital.

[Sam Roberts]

Now, from LA Knight's perspective, I totally get it. He's like, hey, man, you're the one who stopped me. But. But that it doesn't make Jay wrong. It just means LA Knight has a beef. Of course, that beef ends up getting squashed because at least temporarily, because the Vision comes out, we have Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed. It takes us to the main event of the show, which is Bron Bron against LA Knight and Jay uso. And it really is interesting right now, the kind of mix up of the Seth Rollins challengers, right? That. That kind of field of challengers that Seth Rollins has where it's like punk and it's LA Knight and it's Jay uso and before he went over to smackdown, you could throw Sami Zayn in the mix and there are other people that you could throw into that conversation too, where they're. They're all. They all have the same goal, but it's a singular goal. So you end up with all these opportunities for them to kind of team, right? Because right now Seth has an army. So it is smart for them to be on the same team to try to take down this army. But ultimately you can't take down an army if on your side. You all think you're the captain, right? It's like the reason there's an army against the Vision is because they're all the Seth Rollins of their side. None of them are sitting there going like, yeah, we'll be the soldiers. We'll back you up. They're like, I mean, we'll back you up to an extent, to the point where it works in all of our interests. But ultimately, I'm going to kick you in the face too, because I'm here to be the world heavyweight champion, which is just a very, very interesting dynamic to me. I think that it was a strong ending to the show for Bron Breaker.

[Megan Morant]

The spear will always catch me off.

[Sam Roberts]

Guard to just spear Jey uso. Jey uso being the guy who, at SummerSlam, I mean, you talk about a receipt at SummerSlam, Roman took the bullet, Jay missed the spear. Jay was able to get the victory over Bron. Bron here, he didn't miss that spear, no way. And when he caught that spear, that was it. Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed win. Reminding people that they're not like kind of a threat. They're not a first step, they're the threat.

[Megan Morant]

And it's not just losing to them that's the threat. It's what happens after the match that is also a threat. There's always something that happens after the match. It's not, oh, I might just lose to Bron Brown. I might be Taken out of my career. I might be taken out of the industry because of Ron Brown.

[Sam Roberts]

They love doing that.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Manage to go on Zach Doc yourself and find somebody if you're in a.

[Megan Morant]

Match with Brown Braun. Download Zoc, Doc, please.

[Sam Roberts]

But then L A Knight gets taken out, too. But who comes to save the day but the aforementioned Big Jim. Big Jim. And I mean, the minute his music hit, it was just one of those, yeah, I want it.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah. And as he's down there, L. A Knight gets taken out of the equation. I'm like, who in the world is going to help?

[Sam Roberts]

Isn't that wild, though? But like that we went over the course of four years, we went from that classic Roman Reigns line, looking at Jay USO going, you know what they say about you?

[Megan Morant]

Which one are you?

[Sam Roberts]

Which one are you? To. Now Jay USO is in trouble. And we don't even consider the fact that Jimmy USO might come out to save him. That's how, like, separated and established they both are as major singles athletes, which.

[Megan Morant]

Is remarkable because it really wasn't that long ago.

[Sam Roberts]

It wasn't. But the evolution has been quick. And there's so good.

[Megan Morant]

When Cody brought Jay over to smack to raw.

[Sam Roberts]

Raw, yes.

[Megan Morant]

And then Jay had a hell of a year and then wins the Royal Rumble and now has skyrocketed into a totally different.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, because even at WrestleMania 40, Jimmy and Jay were still connected. They were just fighting each other.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

It wasn't until post WrestleMania 40, so you're really talking about, you know, a year. But it's like, it's just a different world that we're in now. But all that said, you know, Jay looking up at Jimmy at the end of the show going, I can't do it. I can't do it alone. I need you and Jet and Jimmy going, like, yeah, I'm here, like, realizing what this version of the Usos looks like, you know, because I think there's. I think for me, there have been three versions of the usos V. One was board shorts and face paint. Figuring it out. Young USO's, you know, bright colors. Their action figures came with a surfboard. No one knew why they never had a surfboard brought to the ring. They're actually. Who knows? I mean, that. But that's who the USO's were. They're so random that Mattel was just like, just put a surfboard in the package then where I thought the USO's. And they were great team, don't get me wrong. It was just like, who are they? Right. I think where the USO's hit their stride was when they broke out the. The air Forces, when they broke out the joggers, when they had the first day one ish shirts on, when that kind of Raw Smackdown separation first happened. That's Usos 2 USOs. 3 is WrestleMania 39 Peak Bloodline. We the ones USOs that they. They leveled it up to the point where as a tag team, they were main eventing WrestleMania. That was. That's. That's 3.0. The idea that now we might. And this is wild speculation, but as you said, there's never been a better time for it. We might get USO's 4.0. Like, like.

[Megan Morant]

But do you think USO's 4.0 is a tag team of USOs? Because I don't.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, it's definitely. It's the two USOs.

[Megan Morant]

I know, but I don't think they're going to be a tag team and threatening the tag team division.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I think. No, I mean, look, I think they're going to, they're going to take care of the matter at hand.

[Megan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

Which is Bron Bronze, you know, Bronson Reed and Bron Breaker. I think that's what they're looking at. And, but, but yeah, I think that, like, what's wild is that because single stars working together. Because that's where I see them 100%, where Jimmy and Jay, what you take two people that forever were only known as a tag team, you separate them, they have these amazing careers, you bring them back together and all of a sudden the USO's are a super team. Not a super team. It's like, can you imagine if. Can you. Like when. When Cody and Roman teamed up. That's a super team. This is crazy. Jimmy and Jey, USO teaming up. That's crazy. That's a super team. That's what's so cool to me is like. Is like, it's such a great piece of this evolutionary story of the Usos in WWE. The idea that we may see them together as a team again at some point. Who knows? Like USOS 4.0, the USO's super team is a. The coolest thing. It's so awesome to me.

[Megan Morant]

I love it.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Yeah. It's so great. I mean, listen, a lot of people, you know, you're talking about the, the yeet shirts and stuff like that, but you know what they started calling Raw. You know what. What day Raw usually happens on Monday. Nope. Monday night. Monday night. Jay uso. It's Monday Night Ooze. Jay uso's new T shirt just dropped. You can shop now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. You can get the Munjay Night Ooze shirt right now. And you know, it's time, you know, you need to upgrade that Jay USO collection. You know, Jay USO is about to go on another run. Be on this day one Ish. Ish. It's, you know, day one Ish. Be a part of it right now on WWE Shop and Fanatics as well. You can get the new John Cena merch on WWE Shop and Fanatics. His farewell tour continues this Friday on Smackdown. That's in Chicago. He has some sweet Chicago themed gear. It's available right now. The whole collection. Tees, hats, sweatbands, towels, championships, more. All of it available now on WWE Shop and Fanatics. We were talking about the tag division, and somebody that is trying to make a splash in the tag division with one of the greatest tag teams of all time is actually our guest tonight on the Raw. Recap. Guys, we're gonna get right back to it. But why do I have this? Why is this in front of me? It's not because we're having an extreme rules match or something like that. It's because my kitchen is extremely better than it has ever been before. Why? Because of Hexclad. I no longer have to choose between the performance and durability of stainless steel pans with the easy cleanup of non stick pans. No. Why not? Because I've got Hexclad. Hexclad has made everything better for me. It has simplified my life, and, I mean, it's made everybody in my house look at me like I'm some kind of magician. Hexclad products are amazing. They're oven safe. They handle up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. They're durable. They're scratch resistant. So they're gonna stay looking amazing. The patented hexagon design, see, protects against scratches even when using metal utensils. Plus, they're toxin free. And it's not just about, you know, pots and pans and things like that. They're knives. Their knives are made of 67 layers of Japanese Damascus steel for a sharper edge that stays sharp longer and effortless slicing. Look, Gordon Ramsay uses this stuff, okay? Don't take my word for it. Take Gordon Ramsay's word for it. And for a limited time, how about this? Only our listeners are going to get 10% off your order with our exclusive link. All you have to do is head to hexclad.com RAW recap. Support our show and check them out at H e x c L-A-Com RAWRECAP make sure to let them know that we sent you. Bon appetit. Let's eat. With hexclad's revolutionary cookware, 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 coming to us from France all the way from Europe. I mean, it was. It's been a tough night, but we appreciate the time regardless. The man himself, Big G, Grayson Waller is here. Coming off of a defeat in a six man tag. I guess the question on a lot of people's mind is what do you think? What do you think went wrong for you in the new day?

[Grayson Waller]

First of all, I find it incredibly disrespectful. I've come all the way here to France. I have this very tough match. I'm hurt. All I want to was some banoffee pie, but I have to come and talk to you guys. They forced me to come and do this. Contractual obligations, apparently. I don't know what went wrong tonight. First of all, the Mexican Destroyer should be banned. That's a move that shouldn't even be done. Like, do they even have doctors in France? If they do, they're not very good. I'm worried for Woods. He's in the locker room right now holding his neck. This could be his last match. I don't know. And you've seen very joyful about that.

[Sam Roberts]

No, I'm not joyful. I certainly hope it's not his last match. I think there must be good doctors. I know both Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns are in the hospital.

[Megan Morant]

So be a WWE wing at the hospital.

[Grayson Waller]

Why would a cool facility, guys. Medical facility.

[Sam Roberts]

Sorry, man, was the. It's a medical facility. I forgot you're overseas. But you know, I don't. I'm not 100% sure. I get that you've been walking around with the petition and everything. You know, number one, I'm not 100% sure that the Mexican Destroyer should be banned. But number two, the fact that it isn't banned. Don't you think that you guys should go into matches realizing that? Petitioner, no petition. We should probably be ready to avoid the Mexican Destroyer.

[Grayson Waller]

First of all, Sam, have you ever taken a Mexican Destroyer or the Canadian variation, also very dangerous? Have you ever taken one?

[Sam Roberts]

No, I haven't taken much of anything.

[Grayson Waller]

Because you talk about wrestling, you talk about what you wish you could do with people like me. Yeah, it's a very dangerous move. Sometimes you're landing on top of your head, back of your head, like it's an incredibly dangerous move. All we want is safety in the workplace, but Adam Pearce doesn't really care about safety. So I'm just trying to be the good guy in the locker room and take care of everyone. You got Petey Williams. I think he started this all. I think we should really blame this on Petey Williams starting the Canadian Destroyer, you know, 20, 20 years ago, and now look at it. So, yes, we have some ways to counter it. We didn't want to give it away. Today. The people of France don't. Doesn't deserve a counter to Mexican Australia. But I have a little scoop for you. This is just for you guys because, you know, I like you guys.

[Sam Roberts]

Thank you.

[Megan Morant]

Oh, thank you.

[Grayson Waller]

Very soon, I'm not worried about the counter. I'm worried about what can beat Penta, and it's the Australian destroyer.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Grayson Waller]

Australian destroyer. Now, tonight I probably could have hit it and won the match, but as I said, the people of France don't deserve the Australian destroyer. I'm saving that for. For a very special time. And Penta better get himself ready. But he can't. There's no footage of it.

[Sam Roberts]

It's interesting. It's interesting, number one, that you bring up Petey Williams because that really wasn't. The Destroyer itself wasn't a mainstay in the wwe. Yeah, until Penta got here, but also until Petey Williams was running around. So you do have to imagine if that is connected somehow. But also, also the Australian Destroyer. If you're telling me that the Mexican Destroyer should be banned, isn't it a little hypocritical to then come up with a variation of it of your own?

[Grayson Waller]

Well, if Adam Pearce took care of his performers, I wouldn't have to go to these lengths. But this is what I have to do. You know, the new day have been very welcoming for me. You know, they're the only two vets in the locker room have actually given me advice and tried to help CM Punk. Does he come help Grayson Waller? No. Does AJ Styles come and help Grayson Waller? No. You know who does? The New Day. And this is my way of giving back. I'm very worried about Xavier woods right now, and my way of giving back is I'm taking out Penta and it's going to be the Australian destroyer that does it.

[Megan Morant]

Big G. Last time we heard, I think there was. That's his name. It's Big G. I don't know why you're laughing at that. You introduced him.

[Grayson Waller]

We want Big G. That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't think. That's not right.

[Grayson Waller]

It was. We want Big G. I don't know. France loves me. The people of France love me. If the women had less underarm hair, I'd have a great time here. But it's. It's rough. All the women in France, very pretty. You take the shirt off, look like Ivar. It's tough.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, that's horrible. That's horrible. Oh, I like that at all.

[Grayson Waller]

Always wearing a sweater. Not a fan.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, yeah, I get that. What are you gonna ask to.

[Megan Morant]

To Big G. Okay. Last we heard, there were 28 signatures on the petition to ban. And I actually heard Wade Barrett on commentary tonight. It seemed like he was in favor as well.

[Sam Roberts]

You mean bummed out Barrett.

[Megan Morant]

Bummed out Barrett. Are you still circulating around the petition and making an effort to keep wrestling safe?

[Grayson Waller]

Very much so. I've started an online petition now which has. I haven't checked in a few days. I think it's tens of thousands of people who have agreed with me. But the problem is, like, the WWE Universe, you know, they don't understand the pain that we go through. It's people, like, people watch football, you know, people watch the NFL. They don't care what happens to these people. They just want to see two people run as fast as they can each other, Bank. And that's what some of the W universe wants. They don't care about our health and safety. They just want to see people get hurt. And I don't like that. I want to see all the performers leave France, Especially France. Please let us leave France. Like, can we. We need the charter now, not tomorrow morning. Like, just get us out. You know, like, we just need to go home.

[Megan Morant]

We've seen you interacting with. With the New Day. I'm not sure. Are you officially a member of the New Day?

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Megan Morant]

Official.

[Grayson Waller]

They said we were going to talk about. I think we're supposed to talk about that today, actually. But they had something on, I think. I think. I think Xavier was playing video games or something. But, you know, I think that's something that they are talking about, you know, rid of the dead weight of Austin theory. And this is the best I've ever felt in My life, I feel so good. I'm in the best shape of my life. Like, do you know how hard it is to deal with someone with an IQ of 65?

[Sam Roberts]

That's his IQ, so tough.

[Grayson Waller]

Theory's that might be. That might be high. I saw him. I saw him on the plane. He said, I read a really good book. He was reading the Cat in the Hat, and he was struggling. Like, he was on each page for, like, at least 12 minutes trying to work out the words. That's tough to, like, have to take care of someone. So it's nice now, the new day, helping me out, taking care of me. They're showing me how things work. You know, as soon as you get on the bus, sit at the back, we're the big dogs, you know, we have to show that we. We kind of run the place. So, you know, they're teaching me things like that.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow. Yeah. It's weird with you and Austin Theory. I'm glad you brought that up, because, you know, a town down under was. It was a. It was. Well, it was a staple of the tag team division for a long time. And then, you know, like, there'd be maybe some tension between the two of you, but nothing ever got to the point where the split happened. Nothing ever. Like, it always seemed to work itself out somehow. And then all of a sudden, Austin Theory disappears, and you just start, like, trashing him and calling him dead weight and saying, I never liked him anyway. Like, why, at no point when Austin Theory was actually in the building that you were in did you say to him, I prefer to not tag together?

[Grayson Waller]

Am I wrong? Am I wrong about Austin Theory? You know, Austin Theory never did. He never said thank you to me for saving his career. You remember that time John Cena buried him live on national television? Yeah, I remember that. That's one of my favorite things I've ever seen. I watched that at least once a week. I watched that clip. And the thing is, I remember going to WrestleMania that year. I was with NXT. I'm up in the stands with Carmilla Hayes, and I watched Theory beat John Cena and no one cared. And I was like, how do I make an impact on the main roster? How do I make an impact on the main roster? I'm going to save Austin Theory's career. And that's exactly what I did. He's never been more relevant than when he was with Grayson Wall. We won the World Tag Team Championships. Who pulled them down? I did. He was losing all the matches. I was helping this guy and where is he now? Who cares, right? He's not at work. I'm flying all over the world. I feel like I've been set free. This is the best I've built in years. Since NXT is the best I felt because I don't have to worry about him. I just have to worry about me. I'm trying to rate it anyway. So when was the last he comes back.

[Sam Roberts]

If.

[Grayson Waller]

If he comes back, we'll have words. I've got no problem saying that to his face. If you can understand. You don't have to talk really slow.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Grayson Waller]

You know, you gotta. You gotta space out the words. It's tough for him sometimes.

[Sam Roberts]

No, that's tough. I was also, you know, I was just racking my brain. When was the last time we heard, like, members of a team who. Their partner got injured and couldn't come to work, and then they started blaming that member of the team for not coming to work?

[Megan Morant]

You know, I. I'm trying to.

[Sam Roberts]

I feel like I've heard that before somewhere.

[Grayson Waller]

See, that's something that I respect about the New Day. You know, a lot of people think they're bad guys because of what they did with Biggie. He was holding them back for so long. They were the good guy, they helped him out. And then all of a sudden, you know, he has an injury. We all get injuries, we all get hurt. But guess what? We keep turning up. He didn't theory doesn't. Because that's the kind of work ethic myself, Xavier and Kofi Kingston have. No matter what happens, even if we get hit with a Mexican destroyer, you know, struggling to walk. I saw woods the other day. He couldn't even play his switch properly. He couldn't play the switch. You know, that dead state in this. Try and play the new Donkey Kong with one hand.

[Megan Morant]

Now. The New Day have been very vocal about the fact that they are grieving ever since they lost the tag team championships. And you come in to the picture and you say you've never felt so good in your life. Do you feel like you inject sort of a. A new energy to you, talking about.

[Sam Roberts]

The power of positivity to kind of.

[Megan Morant]

Help these guys get through their grieving?

[Grayson Waller]

I think that's my job at the moment. You know, obviously, we're all grieving the tag team division. You know, I don't think the Judgment Day even defend the tag titles. They're worried about hooking up with each other or whatever. Weird little thing. In the Judgment Day locker room. I heard some weird noises there. The other day, it was the PS5. I don't know. Strange things. We focused on tag team wrestling. And the best tag team of all time is the new day. So who better to learn from than the new day? You know, for so long, I got stuck with theory. He has no idea what's going on. Sometimes I don't think he knew his left from his right when we're trying to do moves.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh.

[Grayson Waller]

So my job is to bring the old new day back. You know, I want to see them at their best. But right now, we're grieving the tag team division because, unfortunately, because of the new, the Judgment Day doesn't really exist right now, does it?

[Sam Roberts]

I get. I mean, it would be tough to bring back the old new day if it's only two thirds of the old new day, but I do. I do. Why is it.

[Grayson Waller]

Do you agree?

[Sam Roberts]

Why. Why is it. That wasn't where I was going. Why is it.

[Grayson Waller]

I appreciate you, Sam. Thank you. Ever since you went bold, you've been a lot smarter. I don't know if it was the hair holding you back or I don't.

[Sam Roberts]

Know what it was. I'm not 100% sure. But I appreciate the compliment. Why do you suppose that the new day won't kind of embrace you all the way? Why is it that it's still, like, even tonight, it's introduced? It's not. Here comes the new day. When it was Xavier and Kofi and E. Ladies and gentlemen, the new day. Tonight. I heard it. It's the new day. And Grayson Waller. Even on the lower third on the Chiron, the little nameplate, it says the new day. And Grayson Waller. When. When you.

[Grayson Waller]

It didn't say just new day.

[Sam Roberts]

It did not. It said ampersand. Grayson Waller.

[Grayson Waller]

Oh, well, you know, the new day. Very old school. And I appreciate old school. I think we need more old school in the business. You know, they're initiating me. They're making me earn it because, you know, you get an NXT or something, some volleyballer or javelin thrower, they let them in the locker room. Day two, like, you know, you should have to earn your way in. And I feel the new day is like. It's a staple of February television for such a long time, you know.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Grayson Waller]

Only had one other member, so something like this, it doesn't just happen overnight, you know, I have to earn my way in. And I think the best way to do that is to take out Penta. Once I take out Penta, they. They're going to get me in straight away.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, that's. That's easier said than done. I also wonder if you're talking about, like, appreciating the new day because they're old school. I feel like it's not that old school to try to have moves banned because, like, they hurt too much. You know what I mean? Isn't the old school, like, the tough guys that are in there? And. And.

[Grayson Waller]

And I understand. And this is what's wrong with wrestling. People are worried about these fancy moves. You know, what. What happened to a good punch in the face? You know, something like that. You know, like when real men used to fight, it's all these lucha guys, I don't know. With this AAA deal that we've got going on, there's all these idiots in Mars.

[Sam Roberts]

Sure.

[Grayson Waller]

Like, I get it, you're ugly. You don't want to show your face, and you hide behind a mask, and you do flips and tricks because you don't actually know how to wrestle. Penta is just, like, the best example of that. I wish more lucha guys were like, Dom Mysterio. Dom Mysterio is the king of the luchadors. He knows what he's doing. He goes out there and he performs. He takes the mask off, shows the world who he is. The rest of them are hiding. I just think it's like, lucha as a whole is the issue. Maybe we need to ban lucha.

[Sam Roberts]

I think that that would be tough with the new Triple A. Triple mania. Everybody was such a fan of watching.

[Grayson Waller]

Just get rid of the luchadors and just. We'll go down. I'll go down to Mexico. That'll be sick. Have a few margaritas, juicer vases. It'll be sick. We'll run Triple A.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. Make it more. More in your style, I guess.

[Grayson Waller]

I can wear a Cindy mask. I'll wear a Cindy mask and have a. Have my puppet. I eat a hip of hamburgers. Look at me. Oh, you know, maybe I'll do that. Maybe. Maybe that's what Triple A needs, huh?

[Sam Roberts]

You know, Finn Balor was victorious in his match tonight with Dragon Lee. Speaking of. Of luchadors, he was able to. To conquer that. I. Do you think that woods was posing too much? There was a lot of posing, a lot of, you know, just showing off of the body. And he's also the one that ended up, you know, on. On the losing end of things. Do you think that. That if you did have any advice, maybe you'd say if we focus more on the match, maybe we could. Maybe we could have won it.

[Grayson Waller]

See if you had muscles, you'd understand that. You know, you never a gym in your life. Like, come on, brother. If you had, like, look at this.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, wow.

[Grayson Waller]

Shaping the new day. We're working hard, Grayson. This is why they call me Big G, lad. I'm looking good today.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Grayson Waller]

If you have muscles like this, sometimes you got to show it off. You got to show the French, you know, what a real man looks like, because they don't have any. You know, the French aren't real men. They're a bunch of. I was going to say something very inappropriate there, but I'm a company guy, and I'm just going to leave it there. But you know what I was going to say.

[Sam Roberts]

I do. I do.

[Megan Morant]

Now, you've been in France for a little while now. Paris is known for their fashion. Have you, in the new day at all, tried to go hat shopping, you know, to replace the irreplaceable hat, the trampoline hat Panta stole from Xavier.

[Grayson Waller]

That's the kind of hat you can't just go and get that. You know, I've actually. I didn't know too much about hats. I like a cap. A cap is very nice. Sometimes I wear it backwards, you know, but the new day have really introduced me to. To some new variations of hat. They have a lot of fun hats, but you can't just go to a store and get those kind of hats. You need to talk to people. In fact, woods was actually. We met up with his hat designer today, and he has some lovely hats coming, and we'll make sure Penta doesn't get his hands on those ones.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I think that that's. I think that that's important. Well, Grayson, we appreciate the time that you've given.

[Grayson Waller]

Time, baby.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. I don't know anything about this banoffee pie. What? What is this banoffee pie?

[Grayson Waller]

I don't know what's in it, lad. It's got some banana somewhere in it, a little bit of caramel whipped cream on top. It's got, like, a crumbly, like, end of the tour when you finish. It's the. It's the greatest dessert of all time. I don't know if it's actually the dessert or just, like, knowing that you're finished, but this. It's a real treat. Maybe. Maybe one day you can have some. Sam. Maybe if you actually left the studio for once and came to one of these shows and, you know.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. You can't even have a.

[Grayson Waller]

God, this guy's got an action figure. How funny is that. Okay, we are really settling for less if Sam Roberts is getting an action figure. How much did you pay for them to do that?

[Sam Roberts]

I didn't know. It's not. It was.

[Grayson Waller]

Oh, well, it's like more bold when you see. I didn't realize.

[Sam Roberts]

It's not more.

[Grayson Waller]

It's the same amount. Think of all the wrestlers that should have one. That's such a low level option of a figure, you know. You know what is fun, though? If you color the beard a little differently of a Peter Rosenberg figure.

[Megan Morant]

That's true.

[Sam Roberts]

You could.

[Megan Morant]

You could.

[Sam Roberts]

You'd have to call it a little. A little. A little bit differently, but it could be. Yeah, it could be a two in one. Maybe add some glasses or something to it. Listen, it's not about. Go ahead.

[Grayson Waller]

It is. Because then you're telling me that you were like, I'm glad I have this action figure because Meghan doesn't deserve one. You were saying to me at Summer sling.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't even remember. I mean, SummerSlam at this point was so long ago.

[Grayson Waller]

No, why would she ever have one? That's just. That's. That's not fair. I. I want to call you out for that. You did say that.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't recall, but SummerSlam. I mean, here's the thing.

[Grayson Waller]

SummerSlam.

[Sam Roberts]

I. I was at. I think I was.

[Grayson Waller]

Did we talk?

[Sam Roberts]

We did.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, we did.

[Sam Roberts]

We know I did. I did speak to. I don't think I said. But we did speak. Look, I mean, look, all the shows get confused. You know, there's a lot going on right now. Perth is coming up. WWE is going back to Perth. It's Wrestle Palooza next. And then, of course, Perth. Do you have your eye on that? Have you spoken to the New Day about that? Is that someplace that you'd like to kind of make that big impact that you want to make?

[Grayson Waller]

Yeah, I've never been more excited for a show in my life. And, you know, the last summer in Perth, I helped the Grayson Waller effect, which was a lot of fun. But, like, my dream has always been to wrestle for WWE in Australia. And, you know, I wish it was Sydney, but Perth will do. Perth's also very nice. And all my energy, everything I have right now is focused on that show. So all the work behind the scenes that I'm doing is for that show. And I'm excited to show Kofi and Xavier around. You know, Perth is a beautiful place. You know, take him to the beaches. I'm gonna teach him about, you know, we don't wear shoes in Australia. So I need to get them used to that. That's a little bit of a different thing. Maybe introduce them to some kangaroos.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Grayson Waller]

And then whatever happens, I'm putting on a show. That's my weekend. I haven't done a shoeie in a while, and I think it's about time.

[Megan Morant]

Man, that makes sense. The shoe eggs, they don't wear shoes. So it's not gross to drink out of a shoe because you don't wear shoes in Australia.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Grayson Waller]

Megan, this is why you deserve an action figure. Because you're really intelligent and smart.

[Megan Morant]

Higher than a 65 IQ.

[Sam Roberts]

65 is a low IQ. It's lower than most. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Grayson, enjoy the banofi pie.

[Grayson Waller]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

What about any banofi for Kofi?

[Megan Morant]

Ah, that could be.

[Grayson Waller]

That could be good.

[Megan Morant]

You should bring him some banoffee. Maybe he'll let you in.

[Grayson Waller]

He does this every week. Every single week they have Sam Roberts host this, man. That's when they really settle for less. That's cool, though. Can I go?

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, please go.

[Sam Roberts]

Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, you can.

[Grayson Waller]

Awesome.

[Sam Roberts]

Thank you. Hey. Yeah, bro.

[Grayson Waller]

This is a. This guy sucks, man. And they really let him do this every week? Every single week situation.

[Sam Roberts]

Grayson Waller. Well, I mean, what a. What? What a great guy. Yeah, great guy. I don't know why he's got to get into the programming of the show. I don't think it really has any of his. It's not his business.

[Megan Morant]

Well, I. I appreciate him looking out for me.

[Sam Roberts]

What did he.

[Megan Morant]

Look, apparently you're talking about me.

[Sam Roberts]

I wasn't talking about. He made it up. And his evidence. You know you and I did have a conversation, right? Yes, I talked to him at SummerSlam. You know what he said? How'd you get an action figure?

[Megan Morant]

Is that what he said?

[Grayson Waller]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, that's what he said. Sick of that guy. Anyway. Anyway. Anyway, look, I. I do hope he makes a moment in Perth.

[Megan Morant]

It would be great.

[Sam Roberts]

I think it'd be great. And who knows, maybe they make a Tops now card out of it. That would be amazing, right? These Tops now cards. I know you were asking yesterday.

[Megan Morant]

I was.

[Sam Roberts]

I know you were asking. Listen, we know Tops now captures the major milestones, the viral moments from WWE's biggest events. They're only available for a few days. They're up and then they're gone. They're made to order. You can get all kinds of. Of parallels and autograph versions and refractors and. And everything.

[Megan Morant]

Well, what's our moment?

[Sam Roberts]

Coming out of Clash in Paris. We've just found out that there will be a Tops now card commemorating Seth Rollins and Becky lynch teaming up in Paris.

[Megan Morant]

They're getting it. I'm getting it.

[Sam Roberts]

You're jumping on.

[Megan Morant]

I want a Tops now card of Becky lynch slapping CM Punk to Look.

[Sam Roberts]

Maybe stranger things have happened, but you can get it there. We are getting the Tops now card featuring the. The. The joining of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. I'll tell you what I love about Tops now because I do collect these cards and, like, I have a stack from this year and, like, it starts to get real, real cool. Especially this time of year when, like, months have passed and you start going through and you're like, oh, man. Like, I have this collection of, like, all of this happened this year. Like, it's kind of crazy. Oh, yeah. And then that kind of led to. That led to that. You know, I got my card of, like, CM Punk and his word life gear and, like, then his match with John Cena and it all. It was in June. It already feels like a lifetime.

[Megan Morant]

Feel like forever.

[Sam Roberts]

It's crazy.

[Megan Morant]

But Charles Robinson card that have it out.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that's what I mean. So, like, this moment, it kind of captures that moment. You go back, you look at the cards, you're like, oh, I remember where I was at.

[Megan Morant]

Yes. What I was feeling.

[Sam Roberts]

So for all the details on whether it's going to be a standard base card or whether it's going to come with an autograph, Chase, can you imagine if I. Or there may be a one of. I don't know. There could be a one of. One dual signature version. There could be. I don't know if there will be or not. To find out, make sure you subscribe to notifications on tops.com. make sure you follow at Tops across all social media. And I'll tell you, Megan, I know the. The one thing that you collect more than Tops cards is empty bottles of Haterade because you just drink so much. But even you've got to say, this Don Mysterio intercontinental title run is legendary. I mean, even I was like, these nails. I mean, bitten to the cuticle.

[Megan Morant]

You were very nervous.

[Sam Roberts]

I was very nervous. Especially, bro, when AJ Styles comes out and I listen to how excited Paris was to see AJ Styles, and I'm going, oh, please don't tell me. Please don't tell me they're trying to make a magic moment happen. Please don't tell me that.

[Megan Morant]

After you just talk all about how wonderful moments are.

[Sam Roberts]

This was the magic moment, Dominic retaining that's what I want to talk about.

[Megan Morant]

The magic moment was Grande Americano helping Dominic.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, well, listen, retain the title.

[Megan Morant]

That was the magic moment.

[Sam Roberts]

And I'll say this, dude. I'll say this. Adam Pierce, who won thousand percent, has a ven debta against Dominik Mysterio. Even you've got to say Adam Pierce does not like. Don't say. Yeah, but here's why. Do you think Adam Pierce likes Dominik Mysterio?

[Megan Morant]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

The fact that even as viewers, we can see this. Can you imagine working in conditions like that where you know your boss has a vendetta against you? That'd be challenging.

[Megan Morant]

Now, if you dig your own grave, you kind of get what you deserve.

[Sam Roberts]

Imagine if you found out Alex Metz had a vendetta against you and he's out there producing this podcast. That'd be tough for you, wouldn't it?

[Megan Morant]

If it's a vendetta for no reason, then, yes, that would be tough.

[Sam Roberts]

What if it's based on.

[Megan Morant]

That I deserved.

[Sam Roberts]

What if it's based on jealousy because you have, as Wade Barrett put it, limitless sex appeal. That's what Wade Barrett said. He's the commentator. I trust him.

[Megan Morant]

It was a great line, by the way. I was like, wait, did he really say that?

[Sam Roberts]

He said limitless sex appeal and then.

[Megan Morant]

Said something in French.

[Sam Roberts]

Luly vous couche avec moi. That's right. So I go, wait, speaking of that, I don't know. Those guys spent a lot of time in France. I don't know. They must be. I don't know.

[Megan Morant]

I wonder if the French women also agree that Dominic has limitless sex appeal. Liv Morgan congratulated him. I saw a tweet. She put it out there.

[Sam Roberts]

Big deal. You know, it's. Of course. Of course she did. I mean, and.

[Megan Morant]

But, you know, glad to see they're still doing well.

[Sam Roberts]

No, Alex Metz, by the way, is concerned. He's asking, does Wade Barrett think I have limitless sex appeal? No, no. He said that about Dominic Mysterio, and then I think there were a lot of names thrown out there. And I apologize for any confusion that.

[Megan Morant]

We don't want to get the HR department recap show.

[Sam Roberts]

No, he was about to send a corporate email. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Hold your horses, everybody. But listen, I think that Adam Pierce and his vendetta against the King of the Luchadors, Dominic Mysterio was like, oh, I'm going to ban Judgment Day from ringside for incidents that have nothing to do with Dominic Mysterio. By the Way, like, he's like, oh, I saw J.D. mcDonough getting involved in Finn Balor's match with Dragon Lee. Therefore, the Judgment Day is banned from Dominic Mysterio's match. I'm like, well, how? I'm trying to file. I'm like writing logic charts, trying to find the if then statement. And I can't for the life of me work out where the logic is in that. But I go, okay, I guess he's the boss. But you know what he did?

[Megan Morant]

He was resourceful.

[Sam Roberts]

Dominic, you mean?

[Megan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

I think what. What Adam Pierce did was he. Which a lot of people do, for whatever reason, underestimated the popularity of Dominic Mysterio. When you're the coolest kid in high school and the principal goes, your three friends can't go with you. No sweat, I got a fourth.

[Grayson Waller]

Yeah, bro.

[Sam Roberts]

Are you kidding me? I'm the coolest kid in school. Everybody wants to be my friend.

[Megan Morant]

You know, technically he should be able to defend the title successfully without help.

[Sam Roberts]

He probably could. He just decided, I mean, I cooler.

[Megan Morant]

To do it with friends.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, because you want to share the glory. Fun, you know what I mean?

[Megan Morant]

More fun to win with friends.

[Sam Roberts]

Seth Rollins, can you imagine getting to win the title with your spouse? How fun is that?

[Megan Morant]

A blast, right? Better than winning it by yourself.

[Sam Roberts]

Exactly. It's lonely at the top. Bring your friends with you. You know, that's all Dom's doing.

[Megan Morant]

A lot of T shirts.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, it's lonely at the top. Bring your friends. Okay? And Grande Americano jumping in there. And by the way, AJ Styles been very disrespectful to luchadors in the build up to this match. Very disrespectful, you know, mocking the late, great Eddie Guerrero in the ways that A.J. styles mocked him. And then, of course, Grande, you know, fixing his mask and then headbutting AJ Styles in the chest. Then Dominic Mysterio making full contact with that chest with the frog splash. One, two, three. Listen, I think a lot of people assume this was going to end with Dominic Mysterio losing the Intercontinental Championship and going in to Worlds Collide for his mega championship match against Vikingo with no title. Guess what? He's going back into Triple A with the Intercontinental Championship. And as a great fighter once said, I'm not surprised. Expletive, which I'll refrain from.

[Megan Morant]

So Dominic has once again another opportunity to become a double champion.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right. And I think he'll do it. And I think it's time that a lot of people spent a lot of time doubting Dominik Mysterio. And by the way. Oh, you know, interference, whatever. Can you tell me that Dominic was not excellent?

[Megan Morant]

He was excellent, isn't it? Now, what can AJ say? Because he's beaten AJ twice.

[Sam Roberts]

Fool me twice, you can't fool me again. They used to say, well, guess what?

[Megan Morant]

What could possibly stop Dominic from defeating Vikingo if AJ Styles. I mean, a double champion, if it wasn't for ages.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right. And AJ Styles is in the conversation for greatest wrestler of all time.

[Megan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

Dominic in arguable. Dominic Bean.

[Megan Morant]

And Dominic claims to be the greatest Mysterio of all time.

[Sam Roberts]

And the greatest. And the king of the luchadors and the grand intercontinental. Jealous luchadors.

[Megan Morant]

Also the greatest intercontinental champion of all time. He claimed that about 10 minutes after winning the title, though.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, yeah, but maybe he's one of those seers, you know, clearly. What? The events that have happened since then have not refuted those claims.

[Megan Morant]

He's been a good champion.

[Sam Roberts]

He's been. Yeah, he has. And even when he, you know, he was like, okay, I'll defend the title a little more. Some, I want to say who. Some in the beginning of his reign said, you know, I don't think he's defended the title.

[Megan Morant]

Like, he was dodging it a lot.

[Sam Roberts]

We don't live in the past. But it's like, okay, then I'll defend it more. Here's the scary thing about Dominic Mysterio. It all started as a joke.

[Megan Morant]

I know.

[Sam Roberts]

It all started as a goof.

[Megan Morant]

You can't deny it anymore.

[Sam Roberts]

And then he was like, well, what if I became like a really great wrestler?

[Megan Morant]

And he did.

[Sam Roberts]

And then you're like, oh, man.

[Megan Morant]

I mean, think back to when he was the NXT North American champion.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right.

[Megan Morant]

How often he wrestled and how good he got.

[Sam Roberts]

Better and better and better. And that's why, like, look, everybody's lucky. I don't have a no New friends attitude. I'm not gatekeeping the Dominic Mysterio party. Come on, come on. Understand that you were wrong. And everybody has coming through that, that, that, you know, turnstile is gonna have to say, I was wrong, you were right. Thank you, Sam.

[Megan Morant]

I will never forget when you tried to tell me that Dragon Lee was only where he was at because of nepotism, because he is friends with Rey Mysterio.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't remember saying that, but it does sound like it could be true.

[Megan Morant]

Because Dragon Lee was facing Dominic Mysterio.

[Sam Roberts]

That's interesting.

[Megan Morant]

But listen, you had a. You had A great, a great eye for talent in Dominic Mysterio. Everybody doubted him.

[Sam Roberts]

I've got I so I think I can't imagine even Adam Pearson, his vendetta. Like you can't just keep giving AJ Styles more shots. At this point, I think AJ Styles can get right back into the conversation. But I think now it feels like, you know what I and low key would be an amazing series of matches. AJ Styles vs. Grande Americano be great. Would be outrageous.

[Megan Morant]

I would love to see it like that.

[Sam Roberts]

And hopefully, I mean, that's what we get out of this. We get more Intercontinental champion Dominic Mysterio and we end up with AJ Styles versus Grande Americano matches. That feels very win, win, win, win, win to me.

[Megan Morant]

I know on Raw everybody's been focused on the World Heavyweight Championship, but now that AJ Styles is out of Dominic's hair, I imagine there have to be some superstars with their eyes on Dominic Mysterio and his Intercontinental title.

[Sam Roberts]

You would think so. I've got to say it. In the men's and the women's division right now, Intercontinental championship division is looking real strong.

[Megan Morant]

It is.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. I knew you'd agree with me on that. Speaking of looking strong, let's see who's looking strong in the Fanatics NFL Survivor pool. It's live now in the Fanatics app. The rules are very, very simple. You join the pool, you pick one NFL team to win each week. If your pick wins, you're moving on. If they lose, you're out. Last fans standing win it all. Here are the prize details. By the way, I'm picking the Jets.

[Megan Morant]

This is a good thing.

[Sam Roberts]

I think I'm make it real far.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, it's a great pot.

[Sam Roberts]

Starts at $1 million, but it's already growing. For every player that joins the pool, fanatics is adding $1 to the pot. That's going to go up to $10 million. That's a guaranteed cash prize of over $1 million. The more people to play, the bigger the prize. So share and get your friends to join right away. Download the Fanatics app. Join the NFL Survivor pool and get your pick in before September 8th. That's right around the corner. Now you only have one more week. Last fan standing win it all. I'll see you and you on the leaderboard.

[Megan Morant]

Not if you're picking the Jets.

[Sam Roberts]

Fair criticism speaking. Just don't let Michael Cole hear you say that. Speaking of, of all of this and, and being on the. On the winner board and also the whole theme of, of today's show and, and Tonight's Raw, I feel like was very speculation about Russell Palooza.

[Megan Morant]

Yeah, two weeks from Saturday is nuts already.

[Sam Roberts]

Two weeks from Saturday. There's a lot in the air, a lot of potential, a lot of possibilities, but up until tonight, nothing official. However, as Adam Pearce says, it is official. We have our first match announced for Wrestle Palooza. People were wondering what happens with the Women's World Championship now that Naomi has put the title down while she goes home to have a baby.

[Megan Morant]

Ooze.

[Sam Roberts]

And we find out that Naomi, who, what was it, two weeks ago, was scheduled to have a championship match with Iyo and Naomi, or whoever the champion was going to be, who was scheduled to have a championship match with Stephanie Vacair at Clash in Paris. Now those two challengers that were on the books for the Women's World Championship collide. This is your first match for Russell Palooza. The vacant Women's World Championship gets crowned at Russell Palooza in Indianapolis. It's eo. It's Stephanie Vacair, and we have a graphic.

[Megan Morant]

It is official.

[Sam Roberts]

It's official. Official. There was a video. There was a graphic. There's a poster. There's everything you need. This is the first match announced for Russell Palooza. And I've got to say, I mean, as far as women's matches go, this is going to be it.

[Megan Morant]

Tippity, tippity top. But the second I hear the match, first thing I think of is, what's Rhea Ripley thinking? What she said the first thing that came to my mind, if she's thinking.

[Sam Roberts]

Honestly, she's thinking that this makes sense. She had no claim to this match.

[Megan Morant]

It does make sense, but we know that Riaz wanted that title back.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, then she can earn a championship match and get a shot at the champion. Then.

[Megan Morant]

My next thought is, EO has had a lot going on with the Kabuki Warriors.

[Sam Roberts]

They're her friends. I'm not sure they're her friends. As long as she has no other friends whatsoever. Do not talk to Rhea Ripley. Do not talk to Nikki Bella.

[Megan Morant]

I think Kyrie wants to be her friend.

[Sam Roberts]

I think Kyrie's just, like, kind of chilling going along with it. She's just in the cut right now.

[Megan Morant]

Oscar's behavior tonight on Raw was sort of a roller coaster. I couldn't tell if she was mad at eo, if she was okay with eo, if she was being defensive of her friend, if she was looking in EO's best interest.

[Sam Roberts]

Isn't that the best, Oscar? When you can't really tell what her motivations are. And Also, you aren't 100% sure if she knows what her motivations are. That's. Nobody is ready for Oscar, including Oscar. Iyo's not ready for Oscar. Oscar's not ready for Oscar. Kyrie's not ready for Oscar.

[Megan Morant]

And look, she did say they would take care of the Judgment Day, and they did.

[Sam Roberts]

Judgment Day wasn't ready for Asuka.

[Megan Morant]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

Roxanne Perez got locked up into that Oscar lock and wasn't getting out.

[Megan Morant]

And then we saw Roxanne Perez backstage advocating for herself because she pinned EO Now.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Which is like, now we're stretching, by the way, since then she's lost to Ria and it's been tapped out to the Oscar lot. But by the way, same can be applied, right. Like, tell me that you're going to do Roxanne Perez versus Rhea Ripley. The winner is the number one contender. I can buy that. But, like, there is a logic behind these two women were on the books for getting. They had already earned championship matches. They were already getting the championship matches. There is no sort of. Well, let's just look at the roster and who might.

[Megan Morant]

No, that wouldn't be right.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. It's just we have two women that were on the books for championship matches, legit. So those are the women. They're going to compete for the title. That said, it's not like one of those two wins the championship and then the door gets shot. No, obviously, one of those two becomes.

[Megan Morant]

The defending champion and there's going to be challengers. Rhea Ripley says she respects both IYO and Stephanie Vacair.

[Sam Roberts]

You don't believe that. Why do you think that Ria doesn't like iyo? You think that because there's a rivalry between the two of them that really, like, should hate her?

[Megan Morant]

Well, why do I think that Ria doesn't like iyo? Because EO has been the person preventing Rio Ripley from getting the Women's World Championship back. And I find it very interesting that Rio Reef Rio, that Ria has cozied herself up to IYO in a friendly way.

[Sam Roberts]

Mate. But couldn't athletes who respect each other that bring out the best in each other like each other personally?

[Megan Morant]

Sure.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. So that's all. I don't understand why this isn't. I think you do.

[Megan Morant]

You think before Tom Brady and Peyton Manning played each other, they were just like, hey, you guys want to go grab beers tonight?

[Sam Roberts]

They're not. This was not before. Ria and EO are not fighting each other right now.

[Megan Morant]

Not right now. But they're both after the same.

[Sam Roberts]

So you're saying as long as they're active competitors, they can't be friends?

[Megan Morant]

I think it would be tough.

[Sam Roberts]

That's lonely at the top. Then. See, that's why. What did I say about Dominic Mysterio? Bring your friends. Bring your friends along with you. Hey, we're all winning this title. I mean, I'm gonna hold it.

[Megan Morant]

Maybe it's strategic.

[Sam Roberts]

It's. Why is it always so negative?

[Megan Morant]

You gotta be thinking about that title.

[Sam Roberts]

I would hate. You know what?

[Megan Morant]

Every time you see Rhea Ripley, don't you think about the title?

[Sam Roberts]

I can't imagine running with you.

[Megan Morant]

You'd lose.

[Sam Roberts]

See what I'm saying?

[Megan Morant]

You'd lose.

[Sam Roberts]

And by the way, not only would I lose, but I better lose, because if I won, oh, it would get ugly.

[Megan Morant]

I ran a race today, and I wore a Becky lynch shirt to my warmup.

[Sam Roberts]

How'd you do?

[Megan Morant]

I did really well.

[Sam Roberts]

Did you get first place?

[Megan Morant]

No, didn't get first place.

[Sam Roberts]

That lady who got first place, do you hate her? Hater.

[Megan Morant]

I do. I hate her. I want to be her.

[Sam Roberts]

All right, look, I do. I do respect the level of competitiveness.

[Megan Morant]

I did spend some time explaining to people what happened at Clash in Paris. I was like, do you guys watch wrestling? Well, let me tell you what happened last night.

[Sam Roberts]

You guys watch wrestling?

[Grayson Waller]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, here's what happened. I just need to talk about this. But that's what we're here for. That's what the Raw recap is here for. That's why you got to make sure that you're subscribed across all audio platforms. Apple, Spotify, everywhere. You get podcasts if you're watching on YouTube. Thank you. Keep watching on YouTube. Leave comments. Hit, like, spread the word that Sam Roberts and Megan Morant are out here recapping all of it. And we will see you next week when Monday Night Raw is back stateside, and who knows where we'll be at. Two weeks. Then we'll be two weeks shy of Wrestle Paloa. Oh, boy, I can't wait. We'll see you then, everybody.