Megan Morant (2:08)

Getting in the ring, it's such an evil smile, too.

Sam Roberts (2:11)

I mean, it really is. Because you know why? Because when Gunther smiles, I mean, you could see it when Gunther smiles and he shows those teeth and those dimples. The problem is that those every other everyone else's teeth and dimples, they make you go, oh, good news for everybody. Let's find out. Let's all celebrate together. When Gunther smiling and showing his dimples, it's bad news for everyone else. Gunther's not happy if it's good news for him and also everybody else, that bums him out. Because of everybody else. Gunther gets very happy when it's good News for him and absolutely no one else.

Megan Morant (2:44)

I mean, he's the World Heavyweight Champion, Right?

Sam Roberts (2:47)

Right. And everybody's bummed, but he's happy about it.

Megan Morant (2:49)

That makes him happy that people are bumped.

Sam Roberts (2:51)

That's exactly. Exactly right. It makes him feel like he's on the right track, like he's doing something right. You know, he referenced. Obviously, these things get to him. It's so weird because you don't picture Gunther scrolling. You know what I mean? I. Nobody does.

Megan Morant (3:05)

He has more important things to do.

Sam Roberts (3:07)

Does he? Because last week on Raw recap, he brought up Bill Goldberg. So he knew that people were talking about it. This week on Monday Night Raw, he goes in the ring and he says, I'm not here to talk about rumors. He's talking about Goldberg. Like, Goldberg, I believe, has been top of mind for Gunther. I think that as soon as he won that World Heavyweight Title, top of mind is, look, there are a lot of people waiting for Goldberg to show up and scream in my face. And Gunther is a student of the game, no matter what he wants to say, even though he shows it. Weird. Gunther is a guy who grew up watching professional wrestling.

Megan Morant (3:43)

Well, he did say back in Atlanta at Bad Blood, right? That Bill Goldberg was one of his favorite wrestlers.

Sam Roberts (3:50)

No, he said that before Bad Blood, and then at Bad Blood, he said, I said, before, you were one of my favorite wrestlers. But that's not true. Once Goldberg was there, see, he said. I believe he told Bret Hart that Goldberg was one of his favorite wrestlers. And then he told Goldberg, you are not one of my favorite wrestlers.

Megan Morant (4:08)

And then.

Sam Roberts (4:08)

Because once with his son, right? Because then, once again, bad news, bad news, right? And then to his son, he said, I just hope that Bill Goldberg was a better father than he was a pro wrestler. And if Bill Goldberg is watching, I don't mean to snicker, I don't mean to laugh. I don't mean to talk.

Megan Morant (4:23)

Especially a day removed from Father's Day.

Sam Roberts (4:25)

That's right. That's right. And clearly, by the way, Goldberg has always taken his family very seriously. He said years ago, you know, whenever. It was almost 10 years ago, I feel like at this point, when he came back to wwe, he came back to WWE so his son could see him because he hadn't. His son hadn't experienced. I mean, you got to understand Monday Night wars, the thing. Goldberg gave WCW another year of life. Like. Like, Goldberg was an absolute phenomenon. Just as the NWO was dying out, Goldberg was the thing. It came out of nowhere. And I mean, I can't Tell you how many people got those Goldberg tattoos. I don't know how many of them are happy about it today, but I can tell you they got him done, but he was everywhere.

Megan Morant (5:11)

Are you one of those people you're kind of giving me a look?

Sam Roberts (5:14)

I go long sleeves. That's all I'll say. All right, but. But then he had. And then he had his run in WWE after WCW was. Was done. And, I mean, there's just something about Goldberg that, of all people, you wouldn't think that Goldberg would have this forever quality. But he's this. He's this.

Megan Morant (5:31)

He's.

Sam Roberts (5:32)

Love him or hate him, he's got this sort of ability to maintain being Goldberg just forever. The second that music hits, you heard the arena, you heard Green Bay, they went nuts. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And then the smoke comes up, and you're like, he's gonna hit his head on locker. He's gonna breathe in the smoke and storm it out his nose. He's gonna do it again, and he's gonna take his shirt off and be in impossibly great shape as if no time has passed since 1999. It's gonna be amazing. And that's what Goldberg does, you know? And I think that you saw it all over Gunther's face. When Gunther comes out and he goes, I don't hear you talk about rumors. Immediately I'm like, you're checking my Goldberg again, dude. He goes, I'm here to talk about. What word did he use? Reality. And I go, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he starts talking about Seth Rollins, because he knows that Seth Rollins has the money in the bank briefcase. He knows that John Cena has been planting that seed on smackdown, going like, no, no, no. Seth wants me to retire with this so he can get. He can be the only champion. He can get Gunther's World Heavyweight Title. And then, just as he's talking about Seth Rollins, that Goldberg music actually hits. What did you think? What did you think when Goldberg makes his presence known?

Megan Morant (6:58)

Well, this is something that, as Gunter pointed out, everybody's been clamoring for. Right.

Sam Roberts (7:04)

Speculating upon.

Megan Morant (7:05)

Yes, Wildly. About. You don't see Gunter get rattled often. Right. And I wouldn't say he was rattled. Gunter's never.

Sam Roberts (7:16)

Because he'd be really upse. He's been on this show twice, and neither time has been all that polite.

Megan Morant (7:20)

No, he wasn't rude last time.

Sam Roberts (7:23)

He literally walked off and said, I'm only here because they told me I had to do it.

Megan Morant (7:27)

Well, for him. That's. That's being pleasant.

Sam Roberts (7:29)

Well, I take. I can't take everybody on their own.

Megan Morant (7:31)

What did I think? I thought, this is a perfect way to begin this title reign for Gunther.

Sam Roberts (7:37)

I mean, it's a wild way to begin. So Goldberg comes out. He gets right in Gunther's face. And I said all that history about Goldberg to say that there is no doubt in my mind whether he would admit to it or not, that Gunther spent a lot of time growing up, a lot of time learning about the business.

Megan Morant (7:52)

He's a student of the game. There's no question about it, watching Goldberg.

Sam Roberts (7:57)

And I would bet you Gunther was a Goldberg fan growing up. And he's staring down this monster because Goldberg has this way of being like, oh, this is not. It's not like, oh, this is so fun. It's a character from my childhood. It's like, oh, the monster still lives. And Goldberg, I mean, is in Gunther's face shouting at him, congratulations, champ. And it's like you can see the spit particles coming out of Bill Goldberg's mouth and landing right on Gunther's face. And Gunther is like. At first, I think he's trying to no. Sell all this saliva, but eventually, like, you got to go back to DX and put the windshield wipers on. But I think Goldberg was doing it 100% on purpose as an intimidation tactic. And Goldberg said flat out, we started this in Atlanta, like you said, Megan, when Gunther showed up at Bad Blood and was running that mouth and Goldberg was in the front row, and he said, it's only fitting that we end it in Bad blood. And I mean, I'll be damned. In 2025 at a Saturday night's main event. We have a Saturday night's main event in 2025, which is Goldberg versus Gunther on the. What is it, the 12th of July.

Megan Morant (9:14)

Now, Gunter is someone who has a lot of respect for the history of the industry and, as I mentioned, student of the game, right? When he looks at an opponent like Goldberg, this version of Gunter, who believes he is leaps and bounds ahead and above everybody else because he's proven that in the ring. What do you think Gunter thinks when Big Bill Goldberg is spitting in his face?

Sam Roberts (9:41)

Well, it's interesting because when, like I said, when he's right there in front of you, it's like, the monster still lives. Like, I didn't know this was still a thing. And I'm sure it's like a. Like. Like. Like there's an intensity about Goldberg, and I think that's what made him so popular, is that it's a very unique intensity that I think is fairly unmatched. You know, it's all Goldberg. I think if you. If you ask Gunther what he thought about Goldberg when Goldberg wasn't in his face, he might say a lot of what he says about Jay uso that, yeah, like, Goldberg, like, won matches. But ultimately there was a lot of marketing around Goldberg. The entrance was a big part of Goldberg. Like, what did I just say? Smashing the head on the locker, the security walking him through the backstage, coming out and blowing smoke through his nostrils. The showcase of Goldberg. It was always a spectacle. And his entrance might have not have been as long as Jey uso. His entrance might not have been as like, sort of inclusive as Jey uso. Maybe not fun for the whole family as Jey uso. But still, there was a period of time where you would go to a wrestling show and go, I'm here to see the Goldberg entrance because the match is going to be 30 seconds. The match is going to be spear jackhammer. 1, 2, 3. Goldberg wins. I mean, there was literally, it was the top act in WCW for over a year entrance spear jackhammer 1, 2, 3. Music plays again, that was the actual. And that's what everybody bought a ticket to see. People bought pay per views to witness it. It was unbelievable. Gunther has. Has. Has in the past not seemed to have a ton of respect for that type of professional wrestling. You know, the sort of like the spectacle. Gunther, clearly, he said it to us last week, you're not here to. To be that spectacle.

Megan Morant (11:40)

Oh, he's here for the honor of.

Sam Roberts (11:42)

This great sport and to beat people up and win, right?

Megan Morant (11:47)

Yes.

Sam Roberts (11:48)

And that's how he honors the sport, by beating people. So, you know, I. Look, I think that, that. But that's what Gunther would tell you if Goldberg wasn't in the room. I think when Goldberg is tearing you down and it's a reality, well, now it's a whole different story because now there's a reason why it was spear jackhammer 1, 2, 3. And that's the guy that you're facing. Spirit jackhammer 1, 2, 3 is the guy that you're facing for the title. And the fact is, and this is one of the reasons why there are fans that don't like Goldberg in 2025, that Goldberg, especially at this phase in the WWE, developed a reputation that you would think, well, Goldberg is in the. In the match. Because we haven't seen Goldberg in a while. It's the word I just used a moment ago, a spectacle. But nobody's Going to lose the title to Goldberg. You know what I mean? Like, this is modern day wwe. You're not going to lose the title to Goldberg. And then Goldberg won the title. And you go, what? Goldberg's the champion. He would beat your favorite guys. He would beat these guys that you want. You. You're like, this is my guy. And Goldberg beats him. And you're like, gold. What? What? He's still doing this. So the simple fact is that whether you're Gunther, whether you're a fan, who is listening to this or watching this right now, we get. I'm not telling you how you feel. I'm not asking who should. I'm saying straight up, regardless of the era, you can't tell me the Goldberg is not winning the title. Because how many times have you said, goldberg's not winning the title? And then what happens? Goldberg wins the title.

Megan Morant (13:21)

Also, especially after what we saw last week, I didn't think Jay USO was losing the title.

Sam Roberts (13:25)

Gunter's not winning the title.

Megan Morant (13:26)

Exactly. And what happened? Gunther won the title.

Sam Roberts (13:29)

It is one of those things where it's like Goldberg and Gunther are both that inevitability. Interesting. I mean, I can't wait to see. I know that the opinions are going to be very, very mixed on it. And part of that is because the reality is that there are people who do not want Goldberg to be the champion. But know, if Goldberg's in a championship match, especially in Atlanta, Goldberg doesn't lose that much. You know what I mean? In any era, Goldberg doesn't lose all that much. Gunther doesn't either. And that is. Is maybe what makes this all so compelling. We're going to be talking to Bailey in a few minutes, but before we do, Jay USO qualifies for the King of the Ring semifinals.

Big E (14:11)

Beautiful.

Sam Roberts (14:12)

Fatal 4. Way to end raw. I mean, action, Action, action, action. You're talking about. You're talking about.

Megan Morant (14:18)

Everything really got tied together a little bit.

Sam Roberts (14:20)

I mean, I love it when things get tied together. You're talking about Jay usa, You're talking about Bronson Reed. You're talking about Rusev. You're talking about Seamus. You're talking about four guys who decided, like, oh, these are the television minutes that we get at the end of this show. Let's use all of them. I found especially Seamus and Rusev that were like, whenever, whenever that ring is empty, we're going to go in there and we're going to beat each other into oblivion.

Megan Morant (14:41)

Which gets all of us really excited because we've seen this teased and we know that they have a past. And when I saw that those were two of the names confirmed in the Fatal Four way, it was like, amazing. I can't wait for Rusev Sheamus. And I want more ruse of Seamus coming out of the Fatal Four.

Sam Roberts (14:57)

I mean, I guarantee. I can't guarantee, but I can guarantee.

Megan Morant (15:01)

We'Re gonna get it.

Sam Roberts (15:01)

We'd be in be insane if we didn't get it.

Megan Morant (15:04)

We better get it.

Sam Roberts (15:05)

I mean, and. But I. Yeah, I think that's what's around the corner. Like, what's next for Rusev and Seamus? Rusev and Seamus. You know what I mean? Like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that that's far from settled. I think we'll see a few Rusev and Seamus matches, and it ain't going to be one that ever gets old. But at the end of that, of course, you know, it's real interesting with this Seth Rollins faction. They always think they have the upper hand, but they don't always have the upper hand. So Braun Breaker stops Jay USO from hitting that USO splash on Bronson Reed.

Megan Morant (15:40)

Yes.

Sam Roberts (15:41)

Then Sami Zayn comes in to stop Bron Breaker, but Braun Breaker ends up taking out Sami Zayn, who, by the way, very interesting interaction with Karrion Kross on Monday Night raw. Karen Cross didn't come out there, though, because once Bron Breakker took out Sami Zayn, out of nowhere, here comes.

Megan Morant (16:00)

Oh, Penta.

Sam Roberts (16:01)

Penta. Penta. Fonzarelli comes out with his leather jacket. He goes, hey. And flips over the ropes out of nowhere.

Megan Morant (16:08)

I didn't think Penta could look any cooler than he does in his entrance, but then I saw him flipping in a leather jacket, and I was just rad. It was proven wrong.

Sam Roberts (16:15)

Just rad. Takes out Braun Breaker. Bronson Reed's going up to Tsunami. Nope. Here comes La Knight.

Megan Morant (16:24)

I jumped the gun.

Sam Roberts (16:25)

Yeah. No, there are a lot of moving parts here.

Megan Morant (16:27)

Yeah.

Sam Roberts (16:27)

La Knight comes out, cost Bron Breaker. That's going to lead to Jey uso. Two USO splashes. Jey USO wins the match as he's coming to and realizing, okay, I'm not cursed. I lost a match to Gunther last week. But we're getting. We're getting our socks pulled up. We're getting back into the. My dad used to use that expression, we're getting back into this thing. And now I've. I'm. I'm in the semifinals for the king of the ring. And he looks up and who's coming down the aisle but Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins Is walking down the aisle with a custom made bear suit. And not a bear suit, a bear's.

Megan Morant (17:02)

Yes, he had blue. A blue suit on with the orange tie, right? A nod to his Chicago Bears in Green Bay.

Sam Roberts (17:10)

Love it.

Megan Morant (17:10)

Not nice, not nice, not nice. Last week we had the green suit for money in the bank and the Tron behind him was green. This week Tron was blue.

Sam Roberts (17:18)

Right. It's matching his suits, which you got to love that. Gets in the ring ready to take out Jey uso because he's furious that his guy lost. That means remember what Seth Rollins said? He wanted control of both championships. He could cash in on one, while whoever won the King of the ring tournament got to cash in on the other. Now Seth Rollins group is completely out of this tournament and he's furious. He's ready to stomp. Jey uso. Cody Rhodes is here. He's on smackdown. Green Bay goes absolutely nuts. They're singing his song. And we get the stare down. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins staring each other down. And Cody Rhods and Seth Rollins. You talk about Batman and the Joker. You talk about two people who can't kill each other because you're too much fun to have around. Two people cosmically linked. Cody Rhodes makes his surprise return to the WWE at WrestleMania 38. The American Nightmare is back. Seth Rollins is his opponent, and it has traveled all the way down since then. Seth Rollins was able to rise to where he rose by sticking it out in the WWE to Cody Rhodes had to leave and come back. And then they square each other off at WrestleMania 38. For three years now, the rivalry just bruised and bruised and bruised and bruised to the point where you don't even realize that this is still cooking until they're in the ring and until they are face to face. And there are a handful of people in the WWE that no matter what else in the world is going on, that when they get in the ring and they stare each other down, the world stops.

Megan Morant (19:00)

And that's what it felt like tonight.

Sam Roberts (19:02)

100%, right?

Megan Morant (19:03)

I mean, Seth was shaking.

Sam Roberts (19:05)

Yes. Emotion.

Megan Morant (19:06)

Yes.

Sam Roberts (19:07)

Just raw emotion.

Megan Morant (19:09)

We've been getting a lot of little nuggets lately, and it gets me very excited for where everything is going and how things are combining. I mean, we saw. We saw Punk and Cody have a moment backstage on smackdown. I mean, we have, we have Rollins and Cody have a moment tonight on Raw.

Sam Roberts (19:24)

Just that little thing, you know, we can't avoid each other forever, right? And I go, oh, my God. Like, this is earth. This is an earth Shattering match. That's an earth shattering match. This is. I need to see that. I need to see. How about a rematch of this? I mean, it's nuts. And then you kind of come to the realization after Seth Rollins decides to leave that we're getting next week in the semifinal for King of the ring, Cody Rhodes vs. Jey USO, which is.

Megan Morant (19:47)

A match that we've wanted for a.

Sam Roberts (19:48)

Long time, but they're brothers.

Megan Morant (19:50)

But here's the thing, Jay. USO does not become the World Heavyweight Champion, does not become single star Jey USO without Cody Rhodes.

Sam Roberts (19:57)

That's right.

Megan Morant (19:58)

Because Cody Rhodes brought Jey uso over to Monday Night Raw. Cody Rhodes is an integral part of Jey Uso becoming a singles star.

Sam Roberts (20:05)

That's 100% right. And leaving the bloodline and finding that independent voice. But maybe Jey uso's a big part of Cody Rhodes being able to finally overcome the bloodline. You know, the fact that Jey Uso stepped aside, the fact that. Which side was Jey Uso on at WrestleMania 40, they needed each other. Yes, yes. And so to see that, I mean, I think it's going to be one for the ages. Good guy versus good guy. One common goal, but two guys that if not, and this is what I love about tournaments, if not for the way the brackets are laid out, we'd never see this match. It just wouldn't happen. There'd be no reason for it. But because of how tournaments are, this is where we're at and it's amazing. And just as we're talking about these matches, we find out that next week, Intercontinental Championship is on the line between Bailey and Becky Lynch. Now, before, by the way, we get to Bailey, who's backstage in Green Bay, I do want to tell you that. Megan, I see what you're wearing tonight. It looks fantastic.

Megan Morant (21:11)

Thank you.

Sam Roberts (21:11)

The ECW T shirt, I mean, after my own heart, I think you look great. And if everybody out there is going, how can I look as good with even newer merch than Megan Morant? All you have to do is go to WWE Shop. Yeah, you know, Oscar came back. We're going to talk about that later on on the show. But there's a new Oscar T shirt at WWE Shop as well as there's a new War Raiders shirt. RAW is War from the War Raiders up on WWE Shop. How about EO sky over the moon salt T shirt all going right now. You can head over to WWE Shop for all these new drops. Of course, the we didn't see Nikki Bella on Raw. But the merch is still up on WWE Shop. I would hope that we're gonna see Nikki Bella again soon. Hopefully, when you do, you'll have yourself some Nikki Bella. Merchant. Can you believe what just happened? Goldberg challenging Gunther. And how about this? The Goldberg's Last Ride collection already up on WWE Shop. All right, Check for yourself. You don't believe me, you say, Sam, you're talking out of your you know where again. No, no, no, no, no. Check for yourself. WWE Shop. The new Goldberg collection is up. So I would recommend. I mean, it's all great. It's all amazing stuff. Now, speaking of amazing, Bailey's back. Bailey is challenging Becky lynch for the Intercontinental Championship. And it's time to. It's time to go to our first guest on Raw. Recap, guys, we'll get back to it in a minute, but we know wrestling is at its best when there's an edge to it, right? Right. When it. When it feels like a little dangerous. The sharper the edge, the better in. The same holds true in the world of shaving, my friend. The same holds true with the way you treat your face and in some cases, your head. And we can get that done easily and inexpensively now, thanks to our friends at Harry's. What do they say? What do they say? What do you want to do? If you want to play good, you got to feel good. If you want to feel good, you got to look good. You need that confidence, and that's what Harry's gives you. Harry's is going to give you the confidence of knowing that you're all trimmed up, you're looking smooth, you're looking sharp, and you are looking ready to go. I got my set from Harry's, laid it out on my bathroom counter. Not only was my wife not furious like she normally is when I put things on her counter, as she puts it, but she said, I gotta get a set of my own. Can I have yours? I said, no, no, no, no, baby, you've got to get your own. I mean, think about everything that Harry's is, right? It's not just German engineered blades made in their own factory that stay sharp longer. It's not just customizable delivery options with scheduled refills as low as $2. That's half of what you pay the other big brands. It's everything combined. You can get a five blade razor weighted handle, foaming shave gel, and a travel cover right now for just eight bucks. Plus a free gift at Harry's.com raw recap. This is a complete no Brainer. Not only is it going to give you the best shave, but you'll never have to think about buying shaving products again because they're going to show up to your doorstep and you're going to save money in the process. Get the edge on your shave with Harry's. Normally their trial set is ten dollars, but right now you can get it for just eight dollars. Plus you get a free gift at Harry's.com rawrecap that's our exclusive link Harry's.com raw recap for an eight dollar trial set and a free gift coming in from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Look who's back on Monday Night RAW and therefore here on the RAW recap. Bailey Ding Dong hello.

Bayley (25:05)

Hello everybody.

Sam Roberts (25:07)

How great did that feel to start tonight with a Ding Dong?

Bayley (25:11)

I felt good.

Sam Roberts (25:12)

Yeah.

Bayley (25:15)

Yeah. I mean I enjoy it. I said I hope people still like when I say it. I don't know if I come off annoying or what.

Sam Roberts (25:21)

I don't think so. I don't think so. I mean, I think it brings back a cherished time in a lot of fans hearts. I think Ding Dong hello. Especially based on what was going on at the time when Ding Dong hello was hitting, you know what I mean? I feel like brings it back.

Bayley (25:38)

What a weird time.

Sam Roberts (25:39)

It was a weird time. It was a weird time. But it was also, you know, I mean, it was a weird time going into WrestleMania, right? Because tonight Becky, you know, part of what she said was that she showed up at WrestleMania and nobody cared that you weren't there. But what was interesting is I thought, you know, reading what I was reading, that a lot of fans really did care. And you not having a WrestleMania match this year promised and then having it kind of taken away was a real thing that, that people cared about and felt you were wronged about. And to see it kind of evolve into what it's evolved into on television is kind of an amazing thing. But for you to come back now with that momentum, how much is that feeling of knowing that that was there and then not there kind of in you?

Megan Morant (26:33)

A lot.

Bayley (26:33)

I was honestly like pretty emotional coming into work today and knowing that I was coming out here to talk about it because I just haven't talked to anybody about it and what like I truly felt and how it made me feel to miss that, that show. I mean, like I said tonight, I don't work just for the big matches, I don't work just for the big spotlights. But it obviously is the one of the biggest nights of the year and we only get so many of those in our career. And I've been lucky enough to have a lot of wrestlemanias under my belt, doing a little bit of everything, you know, all kinds of different matches and hosting WrestleMania. But this one I was really excited for. To be back in the tag division after, you know, having a pretty good run in that gauntlet match with Lyra is something that I was really looking forward to. So to be taken out of it by somebody that. That I've known since the beginning and somebody that I've really grown up with in this. On this path and on this journey, like, just to see how she's changed, how Becky's changed throughout these years is just. It's annoying, and it's disgusting that she has to go to these lengths to get ahead, but, I mean, it is what it is. I think that it's really sounds cheesy, but for sure, like, definitely lit a fire under me and something that I was missing. Even in my title reign, my last title reign, I think there was something missing. And I think it's good to have this chip on my shoulder now and to be able to talk about it and to be able to freaking fight from it and to be able to have something to fight for.

Sam Roberts (28:03)

Yeah, I mean, I think it's really, really, I mean, insanely interesting when you look at the four horsewomen, as somebody who was there watching the four of you kind of craft what we know as this division, in my opinion, and to see all four of you evolve so completely differently to the point that you would think, right, that all these years later, there would be something that would join you guys back together, there would be some kind of a reunion feel, but instead, it feels like. Like later on, this thing that was once all about sort of the unity of building something has been kind of defined by this friction and the fact that, like, the first thing Becky says when she comes back is like, yeah, I've hated Bailey for a long time. Like, are these grudges that have kind of existed and been, I don't know, bubbling under the surface for years, or is this something that comes with success, or how does this happen?

Bayley (29:02)

I mean, I think it's a little bit of everything, and, man, it's a very. I feel it's a little complicated. It's a very, like, sisterly family type situation when it comes to the four of us. And if I'm being quite honest, I've never really been close to Becky, where it's like, I've never rode to shows together with her. And I've never been close to Charlotte. I've never, you know, we were. We never had that relationship of like, oh, let's go out to dinner after the show. Which, what I had with Sasha, you know, like, it was always. It was different. So I. I can understand where this is coming from from Becky, because it was never really there. I thought there was some type of unity there, though. I thought there was some type of, like, with the history and everything that we had gone through, all the. All the training and all the matches that we've had together and everything that we fought for and stood for in such an important time in women's wrestling in the wwe, to come up and do this together, to make change in the women' division, I thought that was a bond strong enough, but apparently not. After all these years, she still has some. Some sort of insecurity and something against me that she's still hanging on to and that she still has to lash out on. And you know what? That doesn't take away everything that we've done, though. It doesn't take away the changes and the growth that we've put towards the women's division. But that does make it a problem for her because it's not something that I'm just going to sit back and take. And now she says I'm the nice one and I can play second fiddle and I'm okay with it. But I'm not anymore, Becky. I'm not. I'm okay with getting walked all over. I'm not okay with getting called trash. And she took out the garbage and she thinks it's funny. I've been in this company for 12 years, 12 and a half years. I've been here six months longer than she even stepped foot in the performance center. So it's not a game to me. And I'm not somebody that you can just call trash and think it's okay. I'm not going to let it sit like that.

Sam Roberts (30:55)

What made you coming back now, like, what makes now feel like the right time to do it?

Bayley (31:02)

Well, first I had to, you know, my shoulder had to get better. I think, you know, it just. Becky's games have gone too far. You know, her turning on Lyra that second night was terrible, friggin annoying and heartbreaking for Lyra. But, you know, I kind of just had to sit back and see how everything played out. And to me, like, I know my issue is with Becky, but while this is going on, while her and Lyra are, you know, going back and forth, there's really nothing that I can do. And I just had to, you know, strike when the time was right. And that's when she's her happiest as the new Women's Intercontinental Champion. And that's exactly why I decided to come back that night.

Megan Morant (31:46)

Well, Bailey, when I think about your career, I think about how aggressive that you've always been. I mean, back when you cashed in on Charlotte in 2019, you went on, you know, a 500 day plus reign and you were so aggressive when you started. Damage control aggressive. Once again, Becky lynch is acting extremely aggressive right now. So what's it going to take for the aggressive side of, of Bailey to come back and take that title from Becky?

Bayley (32:15)

I always, you know, I always say and I always think and prove that experience always plays the game and everything, and everything that Becky's saying and everything that she's claiming, she feels and claiming that she doesn't care about the people or whatever. I've been through all of these stages. I've gone through the roller coaster of the career. I've been happy, I've been sad, I've been mad every single day at this job, you guys know, we feel like every single emotion in one day. Like, I know everything that she's going through and I bet I can name her next step. I bet I know what she's thinking about doing next week in our title match. But she thinks I'm an idiot. She still thinks she's thinking of old nxt Bailey that, you know, she can just jump from behind. She still thinks that I don't know how to stand up first for myself. So to me, it's going to take all those rules of all those years of experience and bring out my stone cold DTA attitude and just show her what I can be all about this time around.

Sam Roberts (33:13)

Now I'm saying, what, what, what?

Megan Morant (33:16)

Well, I did want to ask you about Lyra Valkyria because we saw you two interact backstage tonight on Raw. And you know, you're someone who always helps everybody out, always lifting up the next generation. But it stood out to me that you didn't reach out to Lyra.

Bayley (33:36)

You mean after WrestleMania? Yeah.

Megan Morant (33:37)

And then you said it was heartbreaking to watch her get taken out by Becky lynch, but. But you didn't respond to the text. What's going on?

Bayley (33:46)

I, you know, it's not personal towards Lyra, but when I was taken out at WrestleMania, like, me healing and me going through that injury and me watching WrestleMania from home, like, just wasn't about her. Like, everything I was feeling wasn't about her. And as much as I loved the tag team we formed in two weeks, three weeks, and I really feel like we were on a roll and that people were getting behind us. Like, she's incredible and I really enjoyed, you know, being by her side and being across the ring from her. But what happened at Mania, like, goes beyond that and she doesn't even know, like, if she thinks she was betrayed by Becky. Like, she has no idea what the history has been like between Becky and I and what. And that goes beyond what's what you've seen on tv. Like, nobody knows how Becky and I are in the back. Lyra doesn't know she's still brand new. So it really just doesn't have anything to do with her. And I didn't do it to be mean, but it was just, I just had to be alone at that time. And I think one day she'll see it. I don't know if she'll understand anytime soon. She's still very young, like I said. But I think one day she'll understand.

Megan Morant (35:00)

Well, you know, someone who did understand you tonight was actually Michael Cole. I don't know if you heard, but he said that Bailey was making a lot of sense tonight on Monday Night Raw.

Bayley (35:10)

Wow, Michael Cole. You don't say. That little idiot finally said something nice about, huh? Well, I know he missed me. He tries to pretend like he doesn't miss me, but he does. He texts me every single Tuesday saying, I wish you were there last night for the last two months. But the thing about Paul is that he does, he's, he's there every single week. And he sees everything, he hears everything. And he's been here for a very long time. So he, he knows snakes when he sees them and he knows real ones when he sees them. And I think that's what he's saying out of me right now.

Sam Roberts (35:43)

So when you talk about, you were talking about 12 years and all your experience and in those 12 years, I mean, it's not like it's just been a stagnant 12 years, but a pretty remarkable 12 years. I would think that everything that you've ever dreamed of when you had a side ponytail, looking at the world wide eyed going, what can I accomplish? I mean, from like wrestlemanias to championships to literally still to this day having a match that is on a lot of people's top 10, if not top 5 of all time in Brooklyn. But I was watching like over the weekend, one of the big conversations in the sport of Golf was Rory McElroy, right?

Megan Morant (36:21)

You're a big golf guy.

Sam Roberts (36:22)

Big golf guy and the biggest golf guy. But everybody says that. Rory McElroy, top golf guy. But everybody, they're all Saying Since Rory McElroy won the big one, he hasn't been able to find the motivation to keep playing like he used to. He hasn't been able to find the motivation to keep winning. I would think that this exact same thing applies to wwe, whether it's just about winning the big one or whether it's about somebody like you who came in full of dreams that they wanted to come true. And all of those dreams, I would think, have come true. When you find yourself in this position, which maybe you never thought you'd be in, how do you find motivation to still have those massive moments?

Bayley (37:06)

Because I was kicked off of WrestleMania, I got taken out from WrestleMania. There's always something. And I've said this, I said this in my interview with Chris Van Vliet, since Becky wants to bring it up and those are all real feelings, so she can talk about it, she can make fun of it. But that was before WrestleMania. This is post WrestleMania Bailey. That was pre WrestleMania Bailey. And we're very different now. But there's always been a chip on my shoulder for the reasons and the, and the. Everything that Becky has gotten instead of me, everything, all the pedestals that she's been put on, all the talk shows she's gotten to do like, and I'm not embarrassed to talk about it, it's always been a chip on my shoulder, and it's always bothered me, and that's always push me to this point up until WrestleMania, when it just knocked me straight to the ground and said, you're still not good enough in that chip on your shoulder. It's going to win. You're never going to get up from this. That is what is pushing me right now. There's, it's. I feel like there's chapters of it, and that's what's pushing me right now. I got to prove them wrong. I got to prove her wrong. I have to prove myself right, that I can get to that spot. And I'm going to go through Becky to do it. And I couldn't have. Couldn't have thunk of a better person to go through to prove that to the world.

Sam Roberts (38:17)

When I look at this match, I've already, I mean, and I've been talking about this on podcasts left and right, that to me, Becky versus Bailey has the potential to be one of those rivalries that defines what the Women's Intercontinental Championship is. As somebody who I think has been at the forefront of. Of. Of championing four championships for women, whether it was a tag team championship, whether it was a championship like the Intercontinental Championship to have in this division. But I feel like when you look at that IC title on the men's side of things, you think of Sean and Brett, you think of Breton perfect. You think of all these, you know, massive sort of rivalries amongst iconic stars. And to me, that's how I start to feel when I think of the idea that Becky and Bailey are fighting for the Intercontinental Championship. And it feels like one of those things that could last forever. Are you looking right now at this in terms of a title? Are you looking at it in terms of what the legacy of this rivalry could do for that title? Or is this simply a personal matter?

Bayley (39:27)

Well, thank you for saying. That's really cool to think that people may think like that. I think to me, it's not about the title right now, it's just kind of like a cherry on top, to be honest. As much as I would love to win that title, as much as I would love to win the U.S. women's championship title, because those are things I've never done before. Like you said, like, I've done a lot, almost everything. But there's two brand new titles that I've never won that I wouldn't mind carrying and calling myself one of those champions one day. But I also think that the Intercontinental title for the women, it started off really well. I think that the. The tournament was awesome. All the matches that Lyra had and defended, I think were freaking great. I think she was a perfect inaugural champion. And I think, like, the whole workhorse title really showcased in the women's division as well. I think it got off to a good start. But I do believe, you know, for. For Becky and I to bring our experience to that championship and get the eyes on it, it's. It's only going to make everybody in the division hungrier to get that title. And that's what it's all about. And that's really like bringing in the tag titles. Like that was always the goal was to bring more eyes on more women in the division, make the women more hungry and want something bigger and better and more for themselves. And I think that's what this is going to do. And if a match between Becky and I can, you know, even level it up just a little bit, then that's what I want to do. But I. I'm just here to beat the living crap out of her. And my shoulder is nice and, and healthy now, so I think the title would fit perfectly.

Sam Roberts (41:10)

Oh, look at those arm. Oh my gosh. My goodness. You've been busy.

Bayley (41:17)

My God, baby.

Sam Roberts (41:20)

Well, I'm not off from working out. Not all from building out.

Bayley (41:24)

No off from idiots like Becky.

Sam Roberts (41:25)

Oh, well, now you're back to him. Now you're back to him. The match goes down next week. I can't wait to see a title or no title. Just to see what happens when. Well, when the two of you actually get your hands on each other and maybe you forget how to be polite. I think it's gonna be great. Bailey, we appreciate you giving us your time and being so generous with it here on a Monday night. And yeah, good luck. I can't wait to see what's, what's ahead. I feel like this is a whole new chapter like you said.

Bayley (41:54)

Yeah. Crazy. I keep changing the chapters, keep turning the pages in the book. It's amazing what we do. Thank you guys so much.

Sam Roberts (42:02)

Thank you.

Megan Morant (42:02)

She's writing history.

Sam Roberts (42:04)

Yeah. Guys, we will get right back to it. But I gotta tell you why I love car gurus. Because when you go to that car dealership, you're making a big purchase. And when you're making a big purchase, it should feel great. You should feel confident. It should be an exciting day. It should be, dare I say it, fun. But so often it isn't fun. Cause we go to the car dealerships and we don't know what we're buying. We don't know if it's a good deal. We don't know what we should be looking for. That's where car gurus comes in. They make you feel confident about your purchase. Because when it comes to your big deal, you deserve the best deal. Real price analysis, vehicle history, price drop alerts, and the best deals. No bad dates, just good cars. They make shopping for a car exciting instead of exhausting. Cargurus is going to connect you with trusted dealerships when you're ready to ensuring a transparent and hassle free buying process. With over 4 million listings, CarGurus has more car listings than any other major online automotive marketplace in the United States. So you can find the best deal. Cargurus gives you the control to shop how you want to shop with the tools, the information, the data driven deal ratings you need. It's no wonder similar web estimated traffic data shows Cargurus is the number one most visited car shopping site there is. So buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus@CarGurus.com Go to CarGurus.com to make sure that your big deal is the best deal. That's C A R G u r u s.com CarGurus the world is full.

Big E (43:55)

Of tours.

Sam Roberts (43:58)

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. Thank you very much, the role model Bailey, for coming on the RAW recap. Yes, yes. Good to see Bailey back. I noticed that your support of Becky lynch was very silent when you were talking professional. I know you weren't. You were doing got your journalism with some of those questions.

Megan Morant (44:41)

Gotcha.

Sam Roberts (44:42)

I found some of them are gotcha journalism.

Megan Morant (44:43)

What? The Michael Cole one was offensive to you?

Sam Roberts (44:45)

It felt a little gotcha journalist to me. To me. That's how it felt to me. If you guys think differently, leave it in the comments. But I feel like gotcha. Megan Morant is at it again.

Megan Morant (44:54)

Well, I just think that what Becky is doing, it felt a little trying to elevate the division. Right. It's like, what did you want the four horsewomen? You want them to all get together and sing Kumbaya and just be happy?

Sam Roberts (45:07)

No.

Megan Morant (45:08)

Becky's trying to make the division even better.

Sam Roberts (45:10)

It feels a little John Stosso, but that's neither here nor there. Okay. What I will tell you is if you want to tell Megan Morant to her face a little much with the Gotcha journalism, you can come see us at Fanatics Fest. Yes. By the way, don't actually do that. If you see us at Fanatics Fest, it'll feel threatening. We won't like it. You think so?

Megan Morant (45:29)

Yeah.

Sam Roberts (45:30)

Too much with the Gotcha journalism. Megan, it's going down.

Big E (45:33)

Of course.

Sam Roberts (45:33)

We will be there at the Jacob Javits center in New York City June 20th through the 22nd. That's this weekend. If you're listening to the pod on time, tickets are still available for all three days. If you've never been to a Fanatics Fest before, it really is a remarkably good time. It's one of those core memories, no matter how old you are, that you would just hold on to forever. Not as it. Not only is it like great for. For collectors and do they have every card imaginable available there, not only do they have amazing meet and greets, but they have these incredible booths, these incredible displays. Listen to what they've got. They've got the Superstar entrances that fans can do that you can recreate your favorite WWE entrances on an official WWE set. And it's the real deal.

Megan Morant (46:18)

I think people are going to be getting them wangs up.

Sam Roberts (46:20)

Oh, get them wangs up. Maybe try to get in with some wangs from home. Maybe you do a little cosplay. Get them wangs up. And then you go and do a nice Lyra entrance of Fanatics Fest. I would. There'll be live podcasts, there'll be panels, exclusive WWE merch. I got one from last year that says New Yeet City and it's got the Fanatics Fest logo right there on the arm. Photo sessions, autographs. And of course just announced Monday Night raw that the SummerSlam kickoff goes down Saturday, June 21st at 3pm Eastern. CM Punk and John Cena.

Bayley (46:58)

Wow.

Sam Roberts (46:59)

Will both be there for the SummerSlam kickoff. That's on Saturday, June 21st at 3pm Eastern. You can be there too if you are at Fanatics Fest. Don't miss any of the action when WWE Superstars get together at Fanatics Fest in anticipation of the biggest event of the summer, WWE SummerSlam. I mean, who knows what we're going to see at SummerSlam. I think, you know, it was great talking to Bailey because I really did enjoy her promo and I really like in wrestling when. When real feelings start to get explored through these storylines and you start to lose track. That's why, like, you know, this match between Becky and Bailey next week I'm looking forward to. Because it's like, will we sense some of that real life tension? Yeah, in the match, I always love that stuff. But also, not only that, but when you talk about the women's division, Oscar not only returns and looks, I mean, like a million bucks, but advances in the Queen of the Ring tournament. And you look at SummerSlam, the winner of the tournaments will get championship matches at SummerSlam. Asuka, after over a year, is back in the WWE and after winning the Fatal Four Way, could end up wrestling for one of the championships. Could be against EOS guy. That'd be an amazing match at SummerSlam.

Megan Morant (48:23)

I mean, Sam, we've been talking about the women's division and how deep it is. Yeah, you add someone like Oscar. I mean, look at the tournament right now. It's Jade Cargill, Roxanne Perez, Oscar.

Sam Roberts (48:36)

Boom. Alexa Bliss. Boom, boom. And again spanning generations. Oscar's back here. Bailey is back. You've now got Charlotte, you got Becky, you got Bailey, you got Oscar, you got Roxanne, you got Jade, you've got Naomi, you've got Tiffany. Like, it's just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Stephanie Vacair. That's what I mean. It was so great in this match tonight to see Stephanie Vacair and Oscar put hands on each other.

Megan Morant (49:04)

I love the new entrance for Stephanie Bakir.

Sam Roberts (49:08)

Oh, with the horns. Coming up.

Megan Morant (49:10)

Coming up. But I do have a little. A little bone to pick with Green Bay.

Sam Roberts (49:13)

Oh, boy.

Megan Morant (49:14)

Can we just get this right?

Sam Roberts (49:15)

I don't think they chant about the tables.

Megan Morant (49:17)

They did not.

Sam Roberts (49:18)

Thank God.

Megan Morant (49:18)

Yeah. That's a big one for you. But I do have an issue with their. Their chant because I know Stephanie Valkyrie is new to the Monday Night Raw roster, but when she does the Devil's Kiss.

Sam Roberts (49:28)

Go ahead.

Megan Morant (49:29)

You don't count.

Sam Roberts (49:31)

One, two. No, no, no.

Megan Morant (49:33)

You.

Sam Roberts (49:37)

Alarm.

Megan Morant (49:38)

No, that's what you do when she does the Devil's Kiss.

Sam Roberts (49:41)

Oh, that was you. Those sounds came from you. I thought the car.

Megan Morant (49:45)

Booker T. All right.

Sam Roberts (49:46)

You and Booker. That's what Booker T. Sounds like, too.

Megan Morant (49:51)

When Stephanie does the Devil's Kiss, you know you are doing it with me.

Sam Roberts (49:55)

I don't know. I was doing that.

Megan Morant (49:56)

Yes, you were.

Sam Roberts (49:57)

I think it sounded different than that. I feel like that is something I want to record on my iPhone to wake me up for morning radio in the morning. That could be my alarm, except it would upset the rest of the house.

Megan Morant (50:07)

How unbelievable would it be if you could set your alarm to Booker T. Reacting to the Devil's Kiss?

Sam Roberts (50:13)

Not Booker T. Me.

Megan Morant (50:15)

Double M. Booker does it much better than me.

Sam Roberts (50:18)

No, no, no. This is what I want to do. I want to wake up. It's the crack of dawn. It's time to get to morning radio. And I hear.

Megan Morant (50:28)

I can hear them laughing.

Sam Roberts (50:29)

I mean, the neighborhood is waking up at that point, and you're sitting there.

Big E (50:34)

Thinking to yourself, oh, it must be.

Sam Roberts (50:36)

A Devil's Kiss somewhere. I'm like, what is going on? It's a horror movie.

Megan Morant (50:42)

But please, when she does the Devil's Kiss don't count.

Sam Roberts (50:45)

Right?

Megan Morant (50:46)

Participate.

Sam Roberts (50:47)

Right, right.

Megan Morant (50:48)

In the proper way.

Sam Roberts (50:49)

I'm pretty sure after you made that noise, the fans are gonna be like, oh, I want to do that too. It's fun. That's something I want to do. Megan's having a great time when she goes, like.

Megan Morant (51:00)

See, I'm at home. I have a little baby at home, and noises at her all the time. The other day, I was going, you're.

Sam Roberts (51:09)

Trying to get the baby to do the Booker T. Devil's Kiss.

Megan Morant (51:11)

Big Fan of Stephanie Von Kerr.

Sam Roberts (51:13)

I mean, I don't know. That feels like. Not that morally, it's. There's something off.

Megan Morant (51:17)

Stephanie Vakir's lit.

Sam Roberts (51:19)

No, no, she is lit. I'm not saying she's not lit. You know, I would never say. Oh, well, no, you're right. Green Bay, that's the point. Green Bay, listen to Megan. Okay? That's the whole. That's what we're saying. You gotta listen to Megan. You gotta say. Not one dude, three.

Megan Morant (51:34)

How does it go?

Sam Roberts (51:35)

You tell me.

Megan Morant (51:37)

Okay, next topic.

Sam Roberts (51:38)

Judgment Day. First of all, shout out to Liv Morgan.

Megan Morant (51:42)

Yeah, we're thinking of you.

Sam Roberts (51:43)

Yes. Hopefully that was. It's a terrible thing that happened. You know, being a wrestling fan as long as we have, like, you see, these things happen. And I think sometimes we take for granted how dangerous this. This sport can be. But yeah, so hopefully Michael Cole said it was a separated shoulder, I believe is what he said. I mean, one move into the match, you just. You never know what's going to be that thing. But I mean, Live literally opened the show by saying, this is my division and I'm at the top of it. So hopefully, you know, whatever's going on, she can recover as quickly as humanly possible. Because I've. I would kind of agree. Like, I'm hard pressed to tell you, overall, there's a performer that's significantly better than Liv Morgan in the division Monday night.

Megan Morant (52:35)

Morgan, she's been killing it.

Sam Roberts (52:37)

She nailed it. The Judgment Day. Listen, you're a hater and you're not a hater. Oh, and you've got to admit, the Judgment Day, they were on the same page today. It was almost old school Judgment Day when they all surrounded AJ Styles. Everybody wants to make all this noise about Finn Balor smiling at the wrong time, or, oh, they're bickering about this, or, oh, it felt old school judgment day when A.J. styles is in the middle of the ring and they surround him like a pack of sharks. And they're all on the same page now. AJ Styles, quick. AJ Styles, quick. He got out of the ring, but that's neither here nor there. The fact that they were all working together on the same page, you preying on their downfall. Must have been disappointed.

Megan Morant (53:20)

Oh, I just. It didn't seem like Liv and Raquel were on the same page tonight. And it certainly didn't seem like Raquel was very happy that Roxanne was in the Judgment Day clubhouse. And then Finn pulling Roxanne aside to have some, you know, little pow wow, just club stuff. Private conversation.

Sam Roberts (53:38)

Right.

Megan Morant (53:39)

Seemed a little skeptical. And I don't know. You tell me. WrestleMania is the biggest show of the year, right?

Sam Roberts (53:42)

You're saying it's. No.

Megan Morant (53:44)

No arguments, right? If you were pinned by someone you referred to as your brother, right. At WrestleMania, would you forget about it?

Sam Roberts (53:53)

No, but I would. I would share for my brother.

Megan Morant (53:57)

Okay.

Sam Roberts (53:57)

Yeah, that's right. You know me. I'm more of a.

Megan Morant (53:59)

Like, I am happy with Green Bay because they did boo Dominic Mysterio. So thank you.

Sam Roberts (54:04)

You really. And then. And you said you're not a hater. Okay. Well, I do want to tell you about. You know, we're talking earlier about Fanatics Fest, but one of the key components of Fanatics Fest this year, that makes this year unique, this wasn't happening last year. Is going to be Fanatics Games. Yes, Fanatics games during Fanatics Fest, as a reminder, is a competition between select fans, athletes and WWE Superstars, including John Cena, Cody Rhodes, the Man, Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, originally scheduled. Hopefully she'll be able to make it. We'll see. But fan competitors have been chosen. Fanatics is now giving fans everywhere a chance to get involved in the event. So we know who's competing. But now fans can get involved. Before the games kick off on June 20, fans that are watching or listening to this now will have the chance to predict the winners of each competition. All you have to do is download the Fanatics app to participate in this free to play game. Make your predictions for each of the eight Fanatics Games competitions between any of the 50 pro participants, or select a Fanatics fan. This is the fans competing against the celebrities. Fans competing against each other. Celebrities competing against each other. And this is everyone from like, you know, whether it's Kevin Hart, whether it's a professional athlete, whether it's a WWE Superstar. I mean, everybody's involved in this thing. All you have to do is download the Fanatics apps to participate. Right now, whoever has the most correct picks will win. And you're probably like, oh, okay, just for bragging rights for $100,000, that's what you're going to win. $100,000. Download the Fanatics app and make your predictions today. Because once the games kick off on June 20, picks will be locked.

Megan Morant (56:08)

And we're judging, baby.

Sam Roberts (56:09)

Oh, you bet we are. I'm gonna bring a gavel. That's what judges have, gavels.

Megan Morant (56:17)

The little order in the court thing.

Sam Roberts (56:18)

100. But it's not like little. It's, you know, this is a. I'm wear a robe like A. And a wig, a powdered wig.

Megan Morant (56:26)

We need to collaborate on. On.

Sam Roberts (56:28)

All right. We haven't talked about it yet. We. We're workshopping right now. We're workshopping. But before we get into fanatic stress, before we get into anything else, we want to bring on our second guest here on Raw Recap. Yes. Our next guest here on Raw recap. And that, of course, is our resident expert. Biggie is here to help us break it all down. What's going on, E?

Big E (56:51)

Not much. It's very kind of you to say expert. I think I am far from that. I'm here. I'm here nonetheless, so thank you for that.

Sam Roberts (56:57)

I mean, I would hope that you. I mean, you were. You're a former WWE champion. You should know something about it.

Big E (57:02)

I know a few things.

Sam Roberts (57:03)

Okay.

Big E (57:04)

There are a lot of people who. Who work in things for a long time. Doesn't make them experts.

Sam Roberts (57:08)

Right.

Big E (57:08)

I'm on that list. Thank you, though.

Megan Morant (57:09)

Hey, E. What did you think about woods and his outfit today on Raw?

Big E (57:13)

It was very silky Johnson inspired. I don't know if you've seen the Dave Chappelle.

Megan Morant (57:20)

Oh, we've seen it.

Sam Roberts (57:20)

Player haters ball.

Big E (57:22)

Yes. Yeah, yeah. Famously. I don't know why. I don't know the reason. I don't. I won't pretend to. To try to want to know what goes to that man's mind. It was a choice. I will say that. It was a choice. I don't know where this is going. I don't know. I don't know why. I don't know why I think.

Sam Roberts (57:41)

I mean, the quote, you know, to publish is, it was a choice. And that's kind of says it all.

Big E (57:46)

Indeed. A choice.

Sam Roberts (57:47)

Yeah, yeah. That. What was going on. That's what was going on in your mind. What was going on in your body and your soul. When that goal. When that goal. No, no, no. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Let's get on. No, no, no, no, no.

Big E (58:00)

Come on, Come on now.

Sam Roberts (58:01)

I'm done with the player haters. I want to know through the vain, through. Through all your. Your veins and your blood and your. Everything moving, what was happening when you heard that.

Big E (58:17)

Look? It was like I was 13. It was like, you know, I hearkened back to him winning the title at the Georgia Dome. I met this man at a WALMART Signing like, 25 years ago. You know what I mean? Like, we got to do a hot ones together. This man. My wrestling fandom is so deeply connected to this man. My most famous promo of all time. Has to do with that man, Look, I wanted his retirement match. That's obviously off the table. I will say, if this is indeed it. Gunther is so intriguing. I love the clash of eras, I think. And this is. I want to see. Obviously seeing Jay not have the title is disappointing, but I want to see Gunther be in the ring with the biggest fish. And sometimes that's the best guys in the roster. But like us, I think back to when we were really rolling with the new day and the Dudleys came back. And so you're not only getting an opportunity to share the ring with the best of your time, but you're also getting to share the ring with legends. And when you look back, look, I think a lot of our hardcore fans might roll their eyes and say, why Goldberg? But if you're a Gunther fan, I think when it's all said and done, you want to look at the list of names on his resume that he's beaten. And it's going to have guys from who had their heyday 20 years ago, guys now, younger guys who are going to be future world champions. So I think it's such a great test for Gunther. I think, honestly, I think for a lot of fans, they want to see Gunther move on from Jay. And this is such a unique out of the box. My fiance was asking me, who do you think is up next for Gunther? And I had forgotten about the whole Goldberg thing. And I didn't know. We were just quick balling. And when his music hit, it was.

Sam Roberts (60:06)

Like, oh, that's so fun.

Big E (60:11)

And that's what I love about our industry is you get to make these matches and these moments that a lot of times you would never expect.

Sam Roberts (60:18)

Yeah, yeah. And also, and this is why some people are intrigued by Goldberg, is why some people like Goldberg, is why some people absolutely hate when Goldberg comes back. Because if there's anything that we've learned even about. I was saying this earlier about modern day wwe, that there was a time when Goldberg would return and you'd think it was for one match or whatever, and he'd be in a title match and you go, well, Goldberg's not gonna win the title. And then Goldberg would win the title. Like, that's the thing about Goldberg, is that he's in a title match in his hometown. There's a. I mean, at least a decent chance that however it's gonna work, he's winning that title.

Big E (60:56)

It's possible.

Sam Roberts (60:57)

Yeah.

Big E (60:57)

Like you said, it is. It is very possible. It's on the table. And look, for a lot of People who are detractors, feel how you want to feel. But listen to that proud reception in bay. People loved him. They were there for it. I think a lot of us who are a little bit older, it harkens back to our childhood. I think, even for the younger fans, if you don't know his backstory, you see this medicine guy, he might be in his 50s right now, but he's still in incredible shape. The muscles are still bulging. It's a test. Look, I don't. This version of Gunther. I'm not picking anyone against Gunther, but it is very possible. And I think that's what intrigues you is. Is could we see it, right? Could this really happen? Is this possible? I don't think so, but maybe.

Sam Roberts (61:40)

I mean. I mean, just. Just that moment. Just for the moment that will happen when the jackhammer gets hit and the referee's hand counts for two. That moment of the referee's hand coming up and whether or not it hits the mat, that moment that we will all collectively be going, no. Whether it happens or not, it would. That's. That's the moment.

Big E (62:03)

That is. That is indeed the moment. But, look, I also need, like, Goldberg has done interviews months, talking about injuring himself in preparation. There was a time we saw him coming out with blood pouring from his head. I need my guy. I know he is one of the most intense people you will ever meet. I need my guy just obviously still trained, still focused, but let's maybe, maybe add a little bit more Zen. Let's bring it down a little bit to make sure you're at your very best for that match. We need him to walk into that match, but like you said, we really don't know how that match will go. And I think that's the really intriguing part also there. There's so much of that chess meat on Goldberg for Gunther to chop. Those things are going to sound off.

Sam Roberts (62:43)

That's 100, right? I didn't think about the chest meat, to tell you the truth. I didn't even think about that.

Megan Morant (62:47)

He is always thinking about the meat.

Sam Roberts (62:48)

Yeah, he is.

Big E (62:49)

It's. It's unavoidable.

Sam Roberts (62:52)

Well, look, speaking of intriguing, talk about the fact that we have the semifinals nailed for the King of the Ring and the Queen of the Ring. And I think what makes both these tournaments, it gives them a new wrinkle to talk about, is that, you know, back when we were growing up, it was kind of assumed that at some point, whoever won King of the Ring is going to fight for a title or something. But the Fact that we know whoever wins these tournaments are going to to met lives like they're going to a stadium to fight for the championship, I think elevates everything. King of the ring. On one side you got Randy Orton versus Sami Zayn, which we'll see on Friday and next Monday. Cody Rhodes versus Jay uso. What are your thoughts?

Big E (63:41)

We're gonna get two great matches on the men's side. We already know that. But I think, I think all the matches, both matches feel like coin flips to me. I really could see both those matches going either way, man. It is. The Jay and Cody match intrigues me so much, obviously because of their friendship, but also just what is Jay's direction? That's my, that's my biggest thing. Jay's not a world champion anymore and it seems like he might be. He might be right back into that picture at SummerSlam. We'll see. But if he doesn't win this tournament, if he doesn't beat Cody and then beat the winner of Sammy and Randy, who, who is Jey USO now? Like, I've heard some rumblings, obviously there was the, the promo that was just placed online by woods and Kof kind of getting on, on Jay's back after he lost the title. And some people are kind of wondering, are we getting to Jimmy and Jey reuniting? Is he going back to, to the tag division? Is that on the table? Is Jay going to remain a single star? Is he just going to be a fun act that sells a lot of merch or is he going to be at the very top of his business? That, for me is the, is the biggest question. I feel like I have a lot of confidence in knowing where Cody is headed. I think Cody is going to be a world champion again. In fact, I would put good money on that. And I think Jay has the ability, don't get me wrong, but this is really such a crucial point for him and I think a lot of that is on him. Is him deciding, hey, am I going to be okay with all the media, with all the commercial shoots, with all the press, all those things that come with being that guy, do I want to continue down that road or am I saying, you know what, I got my taste. I don't need to focus as much for this Cody match. If I slink back to the mid card. Look, I spent the bulk of my career in the tag division. I have so much love for the tag division. I don't want to consider that a demotion. But I think when we talk about the way our cards are structured in WWE being a world champion, that, that is it, that is, that is the mountaintop. So that, that for me is the biggest question. And obviously on the Sammy and Randy side, I think we're just going to get a really great match with two of the best performers. Sammy's discussion about wanting to be a world champion, it to me it's kind of wild to think about how much Sammy has done in this company. But he really hasn't been very close to being a world champion. His body of work is undeniable. First ballot hall of Famer, truly one of the best to ever do it, one of the most diverse. And he could have a great comedy match, he can have a great hard hitting match, tag team champion, all those things. But you know, I think there are a lot of people that would just kind of like a Mick Foley esque run at a world championship of a guy who was just, he has been here, we love him, we have rooted for him. He has put his body through hell. And is he finally, before he, before it's all said and done, before he retires, is he going to get an opportunity to be world champion? So that really intrigues me as well. And then I also have to say, you know, there's Randy. And when we talk about the most world championships in wwe, obviously John Cena right now is the gold standard. But Randy has not talked about this being his last year or bowing out the year after. Randy says he has several more years left. Is this Randy's bid to meet or break Cena's record? Does he get to 18, 19? We don't know. So I think all those different storylines really intrigued me in these two matches.

Sam Roberts (67:06)

And what's great too is of any of those four people, any, any one of them could get speared by Goldberg who retains the title at SummerSlam, baby.

Big E (67:15)

That's very true.

Sam Roberts (67:17)

Goldberg's walking in his chest champion. He's walking out as champion.

Big E (67:20)

That's very possible.

Sam Roberts (67:23)

And then queen of the ring on smackdown we've got I believe Oscar versus Alexa Bliss. And then on Monday we're gonna have Jade Cargill versus Roxanne Perez. I believe is how it, how it pans out. I mean for me, I'm feeling, and this is very interesting, like Jade Cargill versus Oscar could be your Queen of the ring final.

Big E (67:50)

It very well could. I, I will say I, I think I've noticed over the last couple months or so, I think Jade has improved in ways that we have not really talked about seeing her. She's no longer in a tag. I think obviously she was paired with Bianca for so long and being able to be with someone who is that talented and that good, oftentimes you can hide your weaknesses. And a lot of people have clamored for Jade to prove that she deserves to be on this level. And when you're in four ways with some of the best women in the world, when you're in these singles matches, it's not okay. Can you really sink or swim? And I think she. What I've seen with my eyes is someone who's improving. She looks more comfortable in the ring as well. And then on the other side, I think of the prodigy who is still so incredibly young but is so talented. And in this new crop of women, I feel like it is so easy to get lost. And she hasn't by any means. She's proved every single week she's been on TV that she is extremely talented, someone who very well could win this whole thing. And then also I have to. I don't think we give enough love to Asuka. She really is tremendous. And I think somewhere between we had the four horsewomen, we had kind of that Bianca Rhea crop come out as well. And we've talked. We know how great Asuka is, but we also don't talk about it enough. It's not present of mine. And obviously she's been out for a year as well. She to me is one of my favorite wrestlers on the planet, bar none. Just. Just male women in any company. She is truly incredible. It. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Asuka win the tournament and at SummerSlam become a world champion once again. So yeah, we have such a great field and there's. There's Alexa Bliss as well, who has come back in. I don't know how she has bounced back the way she has after having a baby. She looks like. It looks like the old Alexa Bliss of old. She's been incredible. The fans have taken to her. She has a lot of momentum right now as well. So I think the field on the women's side is really stacked too. And that also feels like a coin flip. So is it. Do we see on one end we have Asuka who's been doing this for what, 20 something years and we have Roxanne who is been about alive as long as Austin's been in Wild. So yeah, it really is such a great. We have so many different people who are different points of their lives and careers as well. On the women's side, before we let.

Sam Roberts (70:09)

You go, even though this didn't happen on Raw, I mean, I'm starting to feel like we need to do a Smackdown recap podcast, too, because we're walking into a Friday night Smackdown where we've got R. Truth or Ron Killings or however you're addressing him versus John Cena. This man went from released to I'm the first guy getting John Cena to do a rematch, and I'm the first guy in this run. In this run, and I'm the first guy in this run getting John Cena to wrestle on television. What are you looking at when you're looking at John Cena vs Truth on Friday?

Big E (70:48)

Man, I can't help but smile because I can only imagine how chaotic that few days was for Truth. The reception online from his peers, from fans. We were in LA doing the pre shows and the post shows, the countdown shows and the Truth chants, man, like, people were so behind him. I don't know if you guys saw his busted open.

Megan Morant (71:10)

Oh, yeah.

Big E (71:11)

Where like, the intensity that this man has brought, the rumors that it took Nick Khan to come in and broker this deal because Truth stuck to his guns. And for me, I'll always be talent first. That will always be my perspective. And to see someone who bet on himself, who knew his value and said, this is what I want and demand, and if you can't meet it, I'm gone. I'm looking elsewhere so that I. I'm so inspired by him. And man, to see someone who is in his 50s, and it feels like we're seeing a version of him we have never seen in wwe, which is. It is such a testament to an incredible performer, I think so often in this industry, it is very. When you're really good at something like, Ron is amazing at comedy. Ron is incredible at comedy. The way he brings smiles to people's faces, not only on screen, but backstage as well. Honestly, maybe the most beloved man I have ever come across in this industry and maybe in life, just truly beloved. But I feel like we're seeing a version of him that we haven't seen. I remember his run, I think, around 2011, where he was smoking in the building. He was also, weirdly, a Confederate soldier as well. I don't know if we want to remember that part. But even then, like that dastardly version of R. Truth, Ron Killings doesn't feel like this version. This feels like a man who is tired of being put in a box, who is tired of being told how to present himself, of who to be, of how to make people feel this is someone who wants to finish his career on his terms. And he is no longer the John Cena fanboy. He is no longer here to make people smile and laugh. He's doing it his way. And I don't put anything past this version of R. Truth. If he is the one to dethrone John Cena, it is uttering that sentence two weeks ago, three weeks ago, you get laughed out of the building. But now, now, it wouldn't shock me one bit. This version of R. Truth can beat anybody. He is so focused. He is so locked in. He is so determined. I see the look in his eyes. I buy every single word that this man says. I believe it, and I believe he feels it in his core. And it's hard not to root for him. It is hard not to. Like, I. Every time I see him on screen, every time I see a tweet, I smile. Because he is the picture of perseverance. He is the picture of endurance. So often in our industry, the greasy. Sorry. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Sam Roberts (73:48)

That's the one.

Big E (73:48)

It's the people who complain and oftentimes have bad attitudes and cause chaos backstage. That has never been our truth. And so many times the people who do things the right way don't get the opportunities when they should. And I think what R Truth is doing is really a testament of getting to do things your way. Being able to look yourself in the mirror and know that you did right by people, that you were earnest, that you were honest, that you gave your all, that you truly did it the right way. And now he is getting to call his own shots. And this match with Cena, what's to come? I don't. I don't know what's after this match with Cena. I don't know. I don't know where this is going, but I'm just gonna say I'm. I'm riveted to everything that R Truth or Ron Killings is doing right now.

Sam Roberts (74:36)

Yeah, it's amazing. You're amazing. Biggie, we appreciate you giving us your time. You're the best. Thank you to Bailey for joining us on the show. Of course. That's coming up on Friday. Next Monday, we've got Cody versus Jay. We've got Jay versus Roxanne. We've got Becky versus. Versus Bailey for the Intercontinental Championship. Megan, send him off one time. Happy Devil's Kiss. Oh, yeah.

Megan Morant (75:04)

Oh, God, it's bad.

Sam Roberts (75:07)

Thank you, E.