John Cena and AJ Styles deliver ANOTHER instant classic: Crown Jewel Recap, Oct. 11, 2025

Summary

Raw Recap with Sam Roberts & Megan Morant

WWE x Fanatics Podcast

Episode: John Cena and AJ Styles deliver ANOTHER instant classic: Crown Jewel Recap

Date: October 11, 2025

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Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth, passionate breakdown of WWE’s Crown Jewel premium live event (PLE) in Perth, Australia. Sam Roberts and Megan Morant relive the night’s emotionally charged matches, including a legendary Cena vs. Styles encounter, the continuing saga of Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, Stephanie Vacair’s crowning moment, seismic shifts in the Bloodline family drama, and the evolving women’s division—all with characteristically unfiltered insight, humor, and wrestling fandom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. John Cena vs. AJ Styles – Instant Classic & Emotional Milestone

Timestamps: 00:01–15:08

• Both hosts recount the personal and fan impact of watching two icons—Cena and Styles—in what could be their final encounter.
  • “Some of these John Cena matches, I feel like I'm going through a trip down memory lane that I wasn't ready to take.” —Megan (00:53)
  • “How could this match not… make you feel that way?” —Sam (01:17)
• The importance of AJ’s entrance gear referencing his TNA days, and surprise tributes woven into the match.
  • “He needed that, too. Maybe he needed the reminder that John Cena gave him.” —Megan (02:50)
• Emotional resonance of Alicia Taylor’s intro referencing both TNA and Bullet Club, surprising AJ live in-ring.
  • “AJ went, okay, you got me. Wow. Yeah, you could see it. He, like, mouthed the word ‘wow.’” —Megan (03:48)
• Both men’s imminent retirements discussed candidly, marking the match as even more special:
  • “Michael Cole was very clear… next year, AJ's gone too.” —Megan (04:12)
  • “On paper, you go, oof. That's tough to process. But then when you see this match...this is what makes wrestling special.” —Megan (05:39)
• The crowd’s visual tribute with seas of yellow Cena shirts, celebration of both legends.
  • “All of the yellow shirts and you realize those are all John Cena shirts...But then AJ’s entrance, everybody’s clapping along for AJ as well.” —Sam (06:05)
• Discussion of in-match tributes—Cena and AJ paying homage to classic moves and legends.
  • “The one that really stopped me, I was like, oh, he’s… tuning up the band?” —Sam (07:45)
  • “We started seeing these tributes probably after SummerSlam… and here we are with AJ Styles.” —Megan (07:23)
  • Series of tributes: Skull Crushing Finale, Sweet Chin Music, Scorpion Death Drop, Coquina Clutch, Accolade, Walls of Jericho, RKO, DDT, Sister Abigail, chokeslam, tombstone, and AA finish.
  • “Cena not only hitting a chokeslam, but ending the match with a tombstone into an AA was like, okay...” —Megan (11:11)
• The weight of the moment for fans, as Cena’s “retirement tour” achieves its purpose:
  • “This is what we want from this John Cena retirement tour…” —Megan (13:07)

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2. Seth Rollins Retains – The Vision Triumphs Over Cody Rhodes

Timestamps: 17:30–34:36

• Rollins’ “Vision” stable and his future as top champion—a must-win scenario.
  • “I did have some concerns...he has to win. The Vision is not going to die...” —Sam (17:57)
• Backstage political tension with Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed; questions of loyalty and trust.
  • “Is it as simple as, well, Seth wanted to do this on his own...Or is this an instance where Seth now comes back and says, I told you guys I was the man?” —Megan (32:26)
• Cody’s “nice guy” persona dissected and perhaps to his detriment.
  • “Sometimes good guys finish last.” —Sam (31:23)
  • “Do I need to…make sure that I'm firmly positioned as number one? And then I'll spend some time lifting up people around me…” —Megan (32:26)
• Rollins' victory, use of the symbolic Rolex—with history linking back to Cody’s WrestleMania gift—used for a cheap shot.
  • “For the second time in a year, the same thing John Cena did to Cody...Cody gets hit with a Rolex across, like, his face…” —Megan (26:03)
• Implications for both men’s future; will Cody darken or adapt?
  • “Cody wants this company, WWE, to be the best...But make no mistake about it, Cody wants to be the guy.” —Megan (29:21)
  • “Now that those rings are there, Cody wants a handful of rings…” —Sam (29:56)

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3. Bloodline Turmoil: Roman Reigns, Jey & Jimmy Uso, Bronson Reed

Timestamps: 36:08–48:45

• Roman Reigns suffers a rare pinfall loss (to Bronson Reed), exacerbated by miscommunication and family drama.
  • “You go to WrestleMania, he loses…goes to France, I guess he won, it didn’t look like it…” —Megan (41:53)
  • “Roman, you know, there was a time when Roman said, I call the plays. And this was villainous Roman Reigns…” —Megan (42:29)
• The post-match focus on Roman’s vulnerability and his search for a new, solo identity.
  • “Roman has to be…a man who is the island of relevancy.” —Megan (47:03)
• The USOs' relationship strained; Jay spears Roman by accident, and walks out on Jimmy after the match. Is the Bloodline finished?
  • “There wasn’t one feeling of ooshe coming out of that match. I mean, what was left of the bloodline family looked like it disintegrated.” —Megan (36:29)
  • “Jay walked out on Jimmy after it. Jay said he's done. I'm done too.” —Megan (48:13)
• Paul Heyman’s role and family hierarchy are called into question.
• Symbolic gear and emotional storytelling both in and out of the ring.

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4. Stephanie Vacair – The New Champion & Women's Division Ascendance

Timestamps: 50:04–56:56

• Stephanie Vacair’s rapid rise, becoming Crown Jewel and Women’s World Champion inside of 15 months.
  • “Fifteen months in the wwe, and not only is she Women's World Champion, she's crowned Jewel Champion...She's La Primera.” —Megan (51:25)
• Defeats Tiffany Stratton; high praise for both, and excitement for the women’s division future.
  • “Tiffany Stratton hasn’t lost in 2025…The build to the Devil’s Kiss...Wade Barrett’s favorite move, Booker T’s favorite move, Perth Australia’s favorite move…” —Megan (52:10)
  • “Having that moment happen. Triple H coming out, kind of putting the stamp on that…” —Megan (53:35)
• The main-event feel of the women’s scene, acknowledgements of rapid evolution and depth.
  • “The women’s division itself moves so quickly that I feel like it almost becomes like a multiverse…” —Megan (54:36)
  • “Stephanie Vacair is now in the conversation for that top tier of the women’s division, and she’s not going anywhere…I think that she won’t be in the mix (for main eventing WrestleMania 42).” —Megan (55:30)

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5. Women's Tag Team Showdown – Iyo Sky, Asuka, Rhea Ripley, & More

Timestamps: 56:56–59:59

• Exploration of the tag team match with Japanese icons (Iyo, Asuka, and Kairi) vs. Australia’s own Rhea Ripley.
• Rhea’s star aura, particularly in front of her home crowd.
  • “She’s one of those people that I guarantee anybody in the world...just put on Rhea Ripley’s entrance, and I guarantee this is what the response will be: I think I like wrestling now.” —Megan (58:51)
  • “It’s the slightest movement of her eyes. When she looks up during her entrance. After she does the stomp.” —Sam (58:56)
• Iyo Sky’s victory and its thematic significance—pinning her old tag partner, Kairi Sane.
  • “The story of this entire match was that Iyo had to leave her family. And so if Iyo needed to prove a point to her family, that she can do this without Asuka…” —Sam (62:07)
  • “Nobody in that tag match would you go, Stephanie Vacair doesn’t belong in the conversation with them. She’s in that conversation.” —Megan (56:56)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is why you care. This is why we care. This is why we do what we do.” —Megan, on Cena & Styles (01:26)
• “All the fireflies coming out, immediate and immediate. Like, everybody knowing right away.” —Megan, on Cena referencing Bray Wyatt (10:37)
• “Sometimes good guys finish last.” —Sam, on Cody Rhodes' kindness being a weakness (31:23)
• “Roman has to go from being a person who leads the island of relevancy to a man who is the island of relevancy.” —Megan (47:03)
• “Fifteen months in the WWE…and she’s La Primera!” —Megan, on Stephanie Vacair (52:00)
• “You could take anybody that's never watched professional wrestling a day in their life, and here are the people…Roman Reigns…Cody Rhodes…Rhea Ripley.” —Megan (57:41)

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:01–15:08: Cena vs. Styles breakdown, emotional context, tributes, retirement implications
• 17:30–34:36: Seth vs. Cody, “Vision” storyline, Rolex swerve, Cody’s narrative
• 36:08–48:45: Bloodline drama, Roman’s defeat, USOs fallout, Roman’s legacy questions
• 50:04–56:56: Stephanie Vacair’s crowning moment, women’s division rapid growth
• 56:56–59:59: Tag match, Rhea Ripley’s star aura, Iyo Sky’s storyline
• Throughout: Iconic quotes, playful banter, emotional analysis, and speculation on what’s next.

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Tone & Final Thoughts

Sam and Megan blend heartfelt nostalgia with sharp analysis, celebrating both the athleticism and deep emotional investment that the WWE experience brings to fans. The episode balances jubilation (over classic matches and rising stars) with bittersweet reflection (on impending retirements and fractured families) in classic, fan-forward fashion.

For listeners who missed Crown Jewel, this is a rich, enthusiastic recap full of detail, storylines, and spirit—a prime backstage pass to WWE’s evolving landscape.

Transcript

[Megan Moran]

As promised, AJ Styles and John Cena deliver an absolute classic. Stephanie Vacair walks home with the Crown Jewel Championship. Seth Rollins once again controls his vision and so much more. This is the WWE Crown Jewel recap. A WWE and Fanatics original production oh, Megan, Megan, Megan, Megan. We meet again, of all places here of all times now.

[Sam Roberts]

Crown Jewel Dusty in, in the Roberts house this morning, huh?

[Megan Moran]

Well, you know, I, I, I, you know, maybe a little bit. Maybe a little bit. Crown Jewel. What? What a date. What a morning. I don't know. So many feelings. I don't know if I'm ready to.

[Sam Roberts]

It's not even noon yet.

[Megan Moran]

To start my morning like this.

[Sam Roberts]

I've lived a whole lifetime of emotions.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, yeah. That really does happen. And that is the. Some of these John Cena matches, I feel like I'm, I'm going through a trip down memory lane that I wasn't ready to take. You know, I was there for that. No, no, I'm. It's pollen. It's pollen.

[Sam Roberts]

Sam only cried a little.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, and that's really private. Anyway.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I mean, if you are a wrestling fan and you grew up watching John Cena and, and AJ Styles, how could this match not you, not make you feel that way?

[Megan Moran]

I mean, it's got. It is that sort of sometimes, you know, there are certain wrestling matches that, like, they justify why you have these feelings. You know, you grow up as a wrestling fan and then, then you be. You enter adulthood and you're still just as big a wrestling fan as you ever were. But you encounter people, numb skulls, as I call them, that will say, like, oh, this is so silly. How can you care this much about something like pro wrestling? How can you care? And then all of a sudden, John Cena and AJ Styles walk into Perth, Australia, and they say, this is why. This is why you care. This is why we care. This is why we do what we do. This is why we sat there and when Triple H sent out that tweet and got his Triple H thumbs going and made the graphic, opened his Triple H Photoshop and made the graphic himself for John Cen and AJ Styles, this is why we got so excited. To me, this is, this is what, what we envisioned the entire John Cena retirement tour to be about matches. And like this, and this match in particular, I mean, you saw my reaction. I might have gotten a little weld up from the entrance with the minute I look at AJ Styles and said, oh, my gosh, he's in the TNA gear.

[Sam Roberts]

And it meant even more because we Talked to AJ Styles on the Crown Jewel preview show, and he was so honest with us in the fact that he didn't think this match was going to happen originally.

[Megan Moran]

Originally when the year started. Yeah. He said, I don't know what my place would be because apparently they don't see me as this caliber of a wrestler. But I think. And. And I think that there was a lot here that was designed to remind everybody that may have forgotten, but maybe also to remind himself who he was. Maybe AJ needed to look in the mirror and see the TNA gear, see that necklace on again, see those. The. The trunks on again that he wore and be reminded. And maybe he needed that, too. Maybe he needed the reminder that. That John Cena gave him by having Alicia Taylor read that. That. That entrance, that introduction.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. I mean, the fact that it's handwritten.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

He gives the note to Alicia, and you could tell that AJ didn't know what Alicia was going to say.

[Megan Moran]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

And as soon as. As she began her announcement, the smirk on AJ's face, it seemed like he was getting slightly welled up as well.

[Megan Moran]

Well, because I think it was a smirk, right? Because when she said, you know, the definition of total nonstop action, you go, oh, TNA reference. And AJ goes, that's cool. A TNA reference on a WWE ple. That's cool. I mean, it's a little bit more fitting now because of the partnership that NXT and TNA have, but that's cool. And then when she said, what was it? The. I don't want to. I don't even want to paraphrase this when I wrote it down, because to me, I thought it was very meaningful as well. The undisputed. What was it? The ace and undisputed boss of the Bullet Club. And that's when AJ went, okay, you got me. Wow. Yeah, you could see it. He, like, mouthed the word wow. Like, this is not about a rematch from whatever it was 2017. This is about two people and Michael Cole. Like, this is. This is not Internet talk. This is not AJ on a podcast with us saying, you know, I'm thinking about wrapping it up soon. Michael Cole was very clear on commentary. Like, yeah, this is John Cena's last year, but next year, AJ's gone too. AJ's last year is going to be 2026, and that doesn't mean he's going to get a John Cena, you know, retirement run in December. And it just means that by the end of next year, both the men that we saw in the ring tonight are done wrestling. And there Was this sort of, like, moment where you were like, huh? And of course, when you see it on paper, right, when somebody tells you AJ and John are both going to be done, John at the end of this year, and AJ, by the time, you know, the ball drops and 2027 comes in, AJ will have been retired as well. On paper, you go, oof. That's tough to process. But then when you see this match and you watch them kind of almost play through their careers and how much that's meant to fans, like, you realize how many John Cena matches I've watched, how many AJ Styles matches that I've watched throughout the entire world, not just in wwe. And it all reaches this pinnacle at crown jewel. And you're like, yeah, this is. This is what makes wrestling special.

[Sam Roberts]

I thought it was unbelievably cool that you look at that crowd in Perth, Australia, and this was from the beginning of the show, and you see all of the yellow shirts and you realize those are all John Cena shirts.

[Megan Moran]

Nobody else has a yellow shirt for.

[Sam Roberts]

This match for John Cena. They're all wearing the John Cena T shirt. But then AJ's introduction, AJ's entrance, everybody's clapping along for AJ as well, right? I mean, this was just beyond special. It was almost. I mean, there was something romantic about John Cena and AJ Styles and the match they put together, right? On paper, it's romantic. But all the tributes that they made throughout as well added another level to it.

[Megan Moran]

And I think too, like, the fact that they were all yellow shirts. It's not like everybody was pulling out their old John Cena shirts. Those were all shirts that they bought, like, at the superstore that weekend or at the Merch booth. Like. Like that is celebrating this moment that everybody was. Was here for. And you're right, you heard it when AJ came out, and you really heard it when John came out and he made Stu.

[Sam Roberts]

He took the camera from Stu, he.

[Megan Moran]

Said, I'm going to shoot this one. And you forget, oh, that's what makes John Cena the Goat. He really can do it all. But I mean, like. Like, all of the tribute, was there one tribute that stopped you in your tracks? Because it really was. We started seeing. We started seeing these tributes probably after SummerSlam. I don't remember that there were any tributes at SummerSlam. But really, you know, ironically, was it Paris?

[Sam Roberts]

I think Paris was really. We started noticing some of the tributes.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, well. Well, ironically, like, the first time people went, oh, I see what's going on here is when John Cena put Logan.

[Sam Roberts]

Paul in the Styles clash in the Logan Paul match.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. And here we are. Here we are with AJ Styles. Like, it was the AJ Styles move that kind of made us all go, oh, wait, this isn't just a coincidence. He's doing a thing. There's a thing going on here for me.

[Sam Roberts]

Out of all the tributes, the one that really stopped me, I was like, oh, he's. He's tuning up the band.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, AJ dude getting ready for the super kick.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

Which was an especially. Especially teasing because it's like, AJ Styles versus Shawn Michaels might be the one match that we'll never get to see that we all like that. Like, for most fans, it doesn't take us long to be like, what's the one match you'd love to see? I don't know. Austin punk AJ versus Shawn Michaels. Like, those are. That's that short list of matches.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, it takes you a minute. He. He starts to do it and you go, is he? Is he.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, he's shooting at the band. Yes.

[Megan Moran]

We got teased for a moment when, like, the fans in. In Perth thought it was request a move night, and they started chanting 619-619. And for a second, I mean, you heard Michael Cole, Wade Baron commentary going, like, I think that's physically possible. And then all of a sudden, AJ is prone and you're like, wait a second, wait a second. You know, you can hear it in Michael Cole's voice when he becomes a kid as well, because he's seen everything. He's been around forever. And like, when he becomes a kid as well, you know, you're on to something.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, all of the tributes started to add up, and it's like, why wouldn't we get a 619 in this moment?

[Megan Moran]

Right, Right. Because. Yeah, because we're not living in reality. No, right.

[Sam Roberts]

They're giving us everything else.

[Megan Moran]

It's a cartoon come to life. Like, we're just seeing it. You know, I think Cena hitting that skull crushing finale, especially with everything we've heard from the Miz in the last week or two. AJ not only hitting sweet chin music, but the Scorpion Death Drop. Because this is like AJ going like, okay, well, I contribute my people too. And the. And the Coquina clutch.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

Like, these are like. And these are tributes that go back to tna. And like, really? I love AJ taking ownership of. Of his legacy as well, which he's in a very, very unique position because his legacy extends outside of wwe. And I Think that that was absolutely on display. I mean, we saw an accolade, you know, shout out to Rusev. We saw the Walls of Jericho of hall moves. People were like, wait a minute. When he was like. When they were like, wait, he's not sitting down. If he's not sitting down and he's keeping AJ kind of arched up like that and tilting him all the way back, and Michael Cole's going, that's not a Boston Crab. That's not a Boston Crab. And I was like, I know it's not a Boston Crab. That's the Walls of Jericho. It can only be one thing.

[Sam Roberts]

We got to see an rko.

[Megan Moran]

Well, we got to see. We got to see the Randy ddt.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

Right? And then you go, is that what I thought it was? Was that a Randy ddt? And then when Cena starts, like, he gets down in that viper position, you're like, it was a Randy ddt. But, you know, I think the one that. The one that got everybody for sure was the Sister Abigail.

[Sam Roberts]

How special.

[Megan Moran]

All the fireflies coming out, immediate and immediate. Like, everybody knowing right away. Yeah. Because, I mean, the Bray Wyatt, John Cena connection runs deep. You go to WrestleMania 30, and the build up to WrestleMania 30 was what really kind of showed the world, oh, Bray is a main event guy. And then you go all the way up to WrestleMania was the pandemic WrestleMania. So I guess it was WrestleMania 36 and the Firefly Funhouse. And honestly, like, even though it was a. I guess, theatrical match or cinematic match is what they call it, even though it was a cinematic match, it would have been a fitting match if that was the end of Cena. You know, they're. They're. They're so interconnected in that way. But Cena not only hitting a choke slam, but ending the match with a tombstone into an AA was like, okay, because that's another one that we're not going to get to see. We know that the Undertaker, John Cena connection literally starts night one of John Cena on smackdown. So I'm sure that that's another one that John would have loved to have been, like, one more with the Undertaker, but it's not going to happen. So.

[Sam Roberts]

But tip of the cap. While we're not going to get the match, it's also a nod to his career. Right. It's a nod to night one on smackdown. John Cena, and everybody can pull from that. Right? So it's like, we're not going to see all the matches we want to see, but having these moments and having these tributes makes the retirement tour that much more special.

[Megan Moran]

And I think that you're 100% right that it isn't about the opponents. It's about the story. It's about how all of these moves are. Are that kind of story of John Cena, and they all are what makes John Cena. John Cena and AJ splashing in. A little of what makes aj. Aj, I thought was awesome. I was happy to see John Cena win. I don't think that the loss leaves anybody questioning where AJ's standing is at all. No, you know what I mean? I think that. I don't think that that affects anything, but I do think that coming off of. Because the Brock Lesnar loss that John Cena took was not only just a wrestler getting decimated, but it was fans being like, come on.

[Sam Roberts]

The wind got taken out of everybody.

[Megan Moran]

Well, we've only got five left after this. There was six at that point, and this is one of the six.

[Sam Roberts]

It felt like it just started to get really good at SummerSlam. And then the Brock Lesnar match happens. And it's.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, yeah. Because in actuality, like, this is what we want from this John Cena retirement tour is like just some time to celebrate somebody that maybe. It took us a while. A lot of us were booing John Cena in those great years, you know what I mean? But we've all kind of realized that he is the goat. And so we all want this opportunity to celebrate John Cena, and we're getting it now. And now I sit here and think about other moments, moves, things that John Cena can do. And as I'm watching this match, I go, you know, at some point, a rock bottom is going to hit real hard. Like, that's all. A rock bottom at some point is going to hit real.

[Sam Roberts]

And we haven't seen real hard.

[Megan Moran]

Nope. Nope. But Rock and Cena, you know that WrestleMania 28 and 29 series, technically 27, 28, 29, is very important for John.

[Sam Roberts]

Cena is going to go absolutely insane.

[Megan Moran]

Especially if it's just the right moment with just the right amount of theatricality to it. You know what I mean? Like. Like presenting this as.

[Sam Roberts]

Don't get me wrong, all of the tributes are special in their own way. But the rock bottom, you got to save that one.

[Megan Moran]

I know. And who knows, who knows when it'll. I think a rock bottom and a broski boot, those are the two things.

[Sam Roberts]

That I'm waiting for.

[Megan Moran]

Who knows, who knows when we're going to get it? But now, yeah, and now we look forward and we've got what, two Monday night raws, I think Survivor Series and Saturday night's main event. And that's what we've got for John Cena for the rest of the year. And now, I mean, I think it's opened a whole new can of worms with AJ Styles where it's like, if we're really saying that we've got a year or less with aj, like, how does that look, especially as we're going into 2026. Yeah, how does that look? And I think that, that now that it's in the zeitgeist, now that it's been said out loud, I, I think especially coming off of this match, it's definitely something that you've got to address and, and kind of celebrate.

[Sam Roberts]

And for some of the young guys in the locker room, I think of like a, you know, a Bron breaker. And it's like, if you could have a match with AJ Styles right his.

[Megan Moran]

Last year, I would say it about Dominic Mysterio, but he already beat him twice. Oh, you know, we were talking about.

[Sam Roberts]

You really know how to bring the mood down.

[Megan Moran]

We're here to celebrate AJ stuff. We're talking about. He did beat him twice. We were talking about those T shirts, the John Cena yellow T shirts. Of course. They were everywhere. I feel like these, these John Cena farewell T shirts, especially for moments like this, are, are. Are becoming more than just merch. They're becoming a piece of history. He continued it this weekend at Crown Jewel, the farewell tour. And to celebrate, you can check out his brand new Perth collection. If you want to be like the people of Perth, get in on that yellow John Cena T shirt. Hit up Fanatics in WWE Shop. Right now it's got the T shirt, the hat, the sweat bands, towels, everything you need. You can grab it all at WWE Shop and Fanatics. And of course, we're going to talk about Rhea Ripley in a few minutes, but Australia's own Rhea Ripley has teamed up with Terrifier, Art the Clown, the whole deal, for an official collab. And that's all also now live at WWE Shop and Fanatics so you can celebrate Ria Ripley, her connection with Art the Clown and Terrifier. Ria Ripley would be a great horror villain.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

You know.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

She's the type that could lure you in and then it's. I love horror movies like that when they lure you in and then you realize that it's already too late before they've done a thing you're like, oh, my God, it's already too late. I'm already done. And I think Ria's got that kind of power.

[Sam Roberts]

You could lure us all in. I would do whatever Ria tells me to do.

[Megan Moran]

And then you realize, well, that's it for you. You screwed up. 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. A lot of people were walking into Crown Jewel, wondering if Seth Rollins had screwed up.

[Sam Roberts]

Not me. I came dressed for the occasion in my Seth Rollins T shirt.

[Megan Moran]

You are such a politicker. You know, I think. You really think that Seth Rollins is going to have this power, and you're going to be able to say, seth, you know, I believe in the vision. I believe in the vision. Seth, I've never heard you believe in the vision. Now all of a sudden you go, just in case. Because I think. Here's what I think. I see that jacket behind you. I think you were gonna zip up the jacket, had Seth lost, and said, you know, oh, I love the American nightmare. I think you're politicking.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, the jacket is, oh, nice, cozy fall weather. Just listen. I did have some concerns when I woke up this morning and I put my Seth Rollins T shirt on. I said, he has to win. There's no doubt in my mind the Vision is not going to die. The vision is going to thrive and prevail. And it starts tonight when Seth Rollins defeats Cody Rhodes. But then I see this backstage interaction between Paul Heyman, Braun Breaker, and Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman says, just, you know, congratulations on your victory. I'm so proud of you. Bronson Reed, I'm paraphrasing all of this, but if Seth Rollins comes out and he needs our help, don't go. He needs to win this one on.

[Megan Moran]

His own, which was like, the opposite. Like, he takes that pause, and you're like, if Seth Rollins waves like this, that's the signal is what I thought we were gonna hear. And he just goes, don't go. And you're like. And Seth has said everything goes through him. Are those the wishes of Seth Rollins, or is that something that Paul Heyman decided on?

[Sam Roberts]

And then I'm thinking about the backstage interaction between Seth and Paul on Raw, when Seth is asking Paul, what happens if I don't win.

[Megan Moran]

Right. Remember on Raw recap, I told you that Paul had to figure out a way to word that where he did explain that it's going to be tough if Seth loses, but somehow survives if Seth wins without being looked at as disloyal.

[Sam Roberts]

And so I'm looking at Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed, who we're going to talk about in just a couple of minutes. But I'm looking at them and I thought they were so impressive that they definitely elevated after their match and at Crown Jewel. And I'm like, all right, well, maybe Paul goes with them and Seth loses. And I'm trying to think about what's gonna happen in the main event. And I did start to get a little bit nervous thinking I may have to zip up my. My jacket and not sport Seth Rollins shirt. But thankfully, vision.

[Megan Moran]

I saw you. You took. You know what she was doing. She was.

[Sam Roberts]

The vision is clear.

[Megan Moran]

You took a piece of duct tape and started writing QB1 on it so you could slap it on your jet just in case. Just in case Cody won.

[Sam Roberts]

I did.

[Megan Moran]

I saw. I saw you.

[Sam Roberts]

I did. You know, I had. I had to be prepared.

[Megan Moran]

Right.

[Sam Roberts]

You know what people what they want.

[Megan Moran]

Here's the thing about Megan Moran. You know whose team you're on.

[Sam Roberts]

The winners. Just like Paul Heyman. Me and Paul Heyman always. I like winners.

[Megan Moran]

That's right. Except in baseball, because you like the White Sox. So it's tough. But yeah, I mean, it really was this scenario where Seth was in a must win. Cody I kind of considered to be in a must win, but the way it was painted, it was. Would be nice to win, but not as must win as Seth is three.

[Sam Roberts]

And oh against Rollins.

[Megan Moran]

Right.

[Sam Roberts]

He goes to three and one. He's.

[Megan Moran]

He's still better record, but it's still a better record. And he's not positioned to lose everything the way Seth Rollins was positioned to lose everything. On Raw, Becky lynch throws a fit because she doesn't like referees cadences.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't blame her.

[Megan Moran]

Okay. I like that I put it in a way that made it sound ridiculous. And you responded by that to that by going, yeah, that's what one should do.

[Sam Roberts]

It was an inaccurate cadence.

[Megan Moran]

No. Okay. It was. It wasn't an accurate cadence, to be fair. But she says, I'm not going to Perth because of that. I don't even know if Seth realized that or not because he wasn't paying attention to her. He was leaving a little bit. He was looking at the watch again. And so he doesn't have Becky lynch and then we find out. You're right. Earlier in the night, see, what I thought was going to happen was Roman Reigns. Leave it to me to think Roman Reigns is just going to come in and destroy everybody. But I figured, like, hey, Sam, what do you think's going to happen? Well, Roman Reigns shows up and destroys everybody. Of course that's. No, what do you think is going to happen? Not what do you want to happen. It's the same. I don't know. And so I go, well, if Roman Reigns destroys everybody earlier in the night, Seth's going to have no backup. See, that's where I thought. I figured Seth would have no backup, but because Roman Reigns destroys everybody.

[Sam Roberts]

So you're right on that part. But you weren't right on the how.

[Megan Moran]

That's exactly right. It was the opposite. It was the total. He did not. Well, we'll talk about it, but Hmon goes, we're not going out. Seth's doing this by himself. And I go, oh, boy, this is going to get tough. Because either we knew you could do it, champ, or you should have been able to do it, Seth. And I'm like, that's a, that's a tough spot for Seth Rollins to be in. So the match is. Is tremendous, you know, and also to show up in zebra print and lose is a wild thing. I mean, you talk about being in a must win scenario. To go out in defeat and you are still wearing zebra print is tough.

[Sam Roberts]

Not only that, but the tribute on his tights as well. The tribute to the Hell in the Cell match. The tribute to WrestleMania 38.

[Megan Moran]

That's correct.

[Sam Roberts]

And the tribute to. What was it?

[Megan Moran]

Backlash. Backlash after WrestleMania 38. Yeah. And it wasn't even like. And the tribute was. I think it was actual swatches of the, of the fabric. Yeah, like, and I noticed the polka dots first, but then you look down and you're like, oh, there's the lace. Oh, there's the. That kind of metallic blue. That's fabric from the gear that he wore, I believe at WrestleMania and Backlash. And that Hell in a Cell match where Cody showed up with the torn.

[Sam Roberts]

Pack and the polka dots takes it to another level because that's dusty too.

[Megan Moran]

Right.

[Sam Roberts]

The second time.

[Megan Moran]

Right. I got you again. Yeah, I got you again. And usually polka dots and zebra print does not go together, but it did this time. Seth pulled it off. Yeah, leave it to Seth. Um, but I'll tell you, the first kind of like, moment in that match that I had was actually Seth Rollins being introduced first and standing in the ring and there was just this moment where the crowd in Perth had stopped singing his song. And you were waiting for Cody's music to hit. And I was right back three, four years ago. I was right back to WrestleMania, to Backlash. I was. I'm like, we've been here before. It was almost deja vu, but in the sense, like, oh, this really does have historical significance.

[Sam Roberts]

When he stood there in Dallas, didn't know who his opponent was going to be. There was that brief moment where Seth is looking up, taking it all in. And then Cody's music hits.

[Megan Moran]

Boom. And the prodigal son had more than one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was right back there and I was like, man, this is really, really cool. And it was. I mean, the match was amazing. Cody kicking out of that first stop. Seth kicking out of a. A, a super crossroads. I'll call it a crossroads off the top. Seth kicks out of it. The. The coast to coast headbutt. I don't know that I've ever seen a Coast to coast headbutt before, but Seth pulled it off. And that's one of those things where say what you want about professional wrestling, but you're literally on one side of the ring. You're like, I have to dive across and make contact with Cody Rhodes right now or I'm going to look like a fool.

[Sam Roberts]

When he's standing up there, I'm like, is he going to make it?

[Megan Moran]

I'm sure he was asking himself the same question. But he made it contact with Cody. Couldn't get the pin on that, though. And at one point he gets that. That watch, that has been. I don't know, it's been telling the story of this match well, it's interesting.

[Sam Roberts]

Because he goes, he's look gazing in the area, right in the area of the timekeeper and there's massive crown Jewel championship there. And I'm thinking, is he going to use the crown jewel championship?

[Megan Moran]

Which almost feels cumbersome because I'm sure if it made contact, it would hurt. But to lift it all the way into the ring and everything.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. And how are you going to get away from the referee seeing that everybody.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, we could probably see it from where we were across the world.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

At least the glimmer.

[Sam Roberts]

That championship is massive. But then he scurries over to the timekeeper. Where is he going? Yeah, that watch again. He's obsessed and he's just has this maniacal look in his face. The evil Seth Rollins as he gazes at that watch.

[Megan Moran]

Right? And the meaningfulness of it. And you don't know, you know, he decides not to use it at first. And is that because he doesn't want to use that specific watch? Is that because he wants to do it without using a foreign object? Is that. Who knows?

[Sam Roberts]

I'm thinking Rolexes are expensive.

[Megan Moran]

Maybe he doesn't want to have to buy another watch. But they will. I mean, they're like, you know, I know they'll take a licking and keep on ticking. That's the thing. So. So at first he doesn't use it, but then he realizes back is up against the wall. He wraps that Rolex around his knuckles. Cody puts him ready for the crossroads. And for the second time in a year, the same thing John Cena did to Cody. It's a different watch, but the same thing. It was a Rolex. Cody gets hit with a Rolex across, like his face that was wrapped around somebody's knuckles. It's like, Cody, stay out of the watch game, dude. I've never known anybody get punched in the face with watches as much as Cody Rhodes. But he does this time, I think even more significantly than the John Cena one, because the John Cena one, John took the watch off of Cody's wrist, wrapped it around his fingers, hit Cody. This one was the Rolex that Cody gifted Seth Rollins after Seth Rollins acted as the shield for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, enabling Cody Rhodes to hit those crossroads and win the WWE Championship, finally finishing his story against the most dominant champion of the modern era, Roman Reigns. He says, thank you, and he gives him a watch with that 40 on it. The same watch that Cody has. The same watch that I think all the participants of that main event of WrestleMania. Well, yeah, I don't know if he has it or not. I don't know if he handed it back to Cody Rhodes, but it has played a part in that story as well. But he wraps it around his wrist. Cody puts him in the crossroads, reaches up, I mean, clocks him across the jaw. Clean across the jaw. The referee has got the wind knocked out of him. Cody Rhodes takes a watch around the fingers to the jaw. And as he's trying to get up, the referee is now looking. And Seth hits a super stomp off the top. 1, 2, 3. Seth Rollins wins the Crown Jewel Championship. It was definitely a very different scene than the scene was when Stephanie Vacair got it. Triple H almost seemed like Proud Papa Triple H when he was putting the title on Stephanie Vacair. I felt like the interaction between Triple H and Seth Rollins Was more set. I mean first he threw Kathy out of the ring. Didn't even let her ask him a question. But I thought it was far more like put it on, put it on. Triple H going okay, you got it. Okay. You did it, Seth. You know what I mean? But I have to wonder, man. Once again, the hospitality of Cody Rhodes. Cody Rhodes wanting to be the nice qb. Cody Rhodes wanting to be the type of QB that lifts his entire team up with him has come back and bit him again. Cody Rhodes got hit with the watch that he gave to Seth Rollins. I mean instantly I'm thinking to myself that's literally the worst gift I've ever given anybody.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

Cody Rhodes was looking to be the history making first ever, two time crown jewel winning crown jewel champion winner. I mean you don't think that Cody was looking. Who does Cody compare himself to? Brady, Right? Does Brady have one ring?

[Sam Roberts]

No, he is seven.

[Megan Moran]

You don't think Cody wanted to fill his hand up?

[Sam Roberts]

Of course he did.

[Megan Moran]

Cody will do. And Cody, look, Cody is a, is a great guy. And Cody I think does Cody wants to be the guy because he wants to be the guy to lift everybody up. And that's a, that's a, that's for a shoot. Cody wants everybody to succeed. Cody wants this company, WWE to be the best WWE that it has ever been under his. No pun intended, but I'll accept it. Watch. But make no mistake about it, Cody wants to be the guy.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

And, and Cody wants to have a. Now that those rings are there, Cody wants a handful of rings he doesn't want. Like, well, I was the guy this year, Seth was the guy the next year. Punk was the guy the year after that, Roman was the guy the year after that. No, like there is no question, you know, why Cena's getting this tour right now. Because there's no question, it's called the Cena era. In my mind, he was the guy. There was no question about it to the point that it frustrated people. It was one of CM Punk's frustrations. It was one of Randy Orton's frustrations. It was one of Edge's frustrations. But John Cena was honestly, it was one of Seth Rollins frustrations. But John Cena was the guy and that's who Cody Rhodes wants to be. And because he gifted a watch to Seth Rollins, Seth Rollins has taken that ring for himself.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, Seth Rollins is done helping others. He's done.

[Megan Moran]

Unless you fall in line.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right. Unless you're part of the vision.

[Megan Moran]

But let me. Okay. Now, let me ask you this. First of all, do you think Cody looks at it that way that I like I got to stop giving people gifts or am I being pessimistic?

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know if he looks at that way. At it that way yet. Do you think he should? Do. Think he should? Okay, I do think when Cody Rhodes looks at himself in the mirror, right. He needs to, you know, sometimes good guys finish last.

[Megan Moran]

Oof. Sometimes it has happened.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes, it has happened. Sometimes when you're a good guy, people take advantage of you.

[Megan Moran]

That's right. I believe that Green Day was the artist that did the song for Crown Jewel. They once said, nice guys finish last. They said it. I think they were the first.

[Sam Roberts]

The first ever to say that ever, ever.

[Megan Moran]

I said, wow.

[Sam Roberts]

Shout out Green Day.

[Megan Moran]

I heard this song. I go, I can't believe it. I never even considered that. But they're right. They're right about that. They do. Sometimes, Sometimes, sometimes, not all the time.

[Sam Roberts]

We love when good guys finish first. It's like me, yeah, Good guy on top. You know, I acknowledge you.

[Megan Moran]

I love the hesitation, I guess you're a good guy.

[Sam Roberts]

We were talking about Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Green Day, and, you know, just throw not Sam into the mix.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, somewhat, I suppose.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, you're a good guy. Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

As opposed, I guess.

[Sam Roberts]

You're a good guy. And look, you got an action figure. The whole thing. Life couldn't be any better.

[Megan Moran]

No, it couldn't be better. It's never been better.

[Sam Roberts]

But for Cody, I do think at some point he needs to look himself in the mirror and ask himself, am I too nice? Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

Do I need to? Is now the time to lift everybody up around me or is now the time to make sure that I'm firmly positioned as number one? And then. Then I'll spend some time lifting up people around me, you know, I don't know. It's very, very interesting. But regardless. Okay, here's my other question then in regards to this. So there are regards. It's not. Regardless. Here's some regards. The Vision. Does Seth's dynamic with that group change? Because it does feel like they've been splintered. It feels like Bronson, Bron Breaker, Paul Heyman have been over here dealing with Roman Reigns business while Seth has been dealing with Cody Rhodes business. Paul Heyman telling them not to come out and help Seth Rollins. Is it as simple as, well, Seth wanted to do this on his own. We were letting him do it on his own. Or is this an instance where Seth now comes back and says, I told you guys I was the man. Now it's time for you guys to have a slice of humble pie.

[Sam Roberts]

It's tricky because I. Seth didn't need their help tonight, right? No, he did not need their help. Now, if he was in a situation where he did need their help and they weren't there, I think the dynamic within the vision could change. But how could the dynamic change within the vision when everybody is walking out of Perth, Australia, as a winner?

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, but do you think that they thought Seth was going to win? Truly, do you think they fully had faith in Seth Rollins? Because that's the difference. When you can win without the group, you can hold absolute power when you win. But with the group, that's when things are not quite as autonomous.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

So my question is, did they really have full faith in Seth Rollins or was there doubt? And if there was doubt, does Seth bring that back to haunt them? I don't know.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, it's hard to doubt him now after the fact. Right?

[Megan Moran]

You can't now. And that may be the problem for them. Listen, a lot of massive moments. We always talk about these moments that happen on these ples. A lot of massive moments tonight. And of course, who captures these massive moments?

[Sam Roberts]

Tops.

[Megan Moran]

Tops now, baby. Tops now. They capture major milestones, viral moments from the biggest events. Biggest events. You know, we've seen Incredible cards from WrestleMania, from Money in the bank, from Russell Palooza. I just got a notification. My Dominic Mysterio wins. The mega championship card is on its way right now, so hopefully I got the one of one signed version.

[Sam Roberts]

That sleeve ready?

[Megan Moran]

Oh, it's ready. It's always waiting. I got the mag case ready for it. Listen, tonight at Crown Jewel is no different. They. They always do this before ples. Right? Tops put out a Crown Jewel poster card that featured Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes and John Cena and Rhea Ripley, just to name a few. Collectors who buy the base card will have the chance to receive rainbow Foil short prints or even gold super short prints that are limited to 25 copies, but it's only available until Monday at 3pm Eastern. As always, make sure that you're following at Tops on social and sign up to notifications on tops.com for the big moment cards from Crown Jewel and and tune into our podcast Raw recap for more info and card graphics. Coming up on Monday, I was really hopeful that we were going to get a Roman Reigns Tops now card, but I don't think that that's in the.

[Sam Roberts]

Not after. Not after tonight.

[Megan Moran]

Unless there's a tops now card that says Jay USO screwed up. Oh. Because that's what the caption would have to say. J uso screwed up.

[Sam Roberts]

And he did. He's spearing his cousin into the table. The table was set up there and you and I are watching together. Oh, my gosh. Roman is going to spear Bronson Reed into the table.

[Megan Moran]

Right.

[Sam Roberts]

And that's not what happened at all.

[Megan Moran]

And then the moment, it was almost like once Jay went airborne, I was like, oh, no, he's going to whoops.

[Sam Roberts]

My bad.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, listen, you don't think of.

[Sam Roberts]

My bad ooze, we'll fix this one.

[Megan Moran]

My bad ooze. No. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I heard the words that were being said after that match. No, my bad ooze is not going to work at all. There wasn't one feeling of ocean coming out of that match. I mean, what was left of the bloodline family looked like it disintegrated after this crown jewel match. So you got. Look, Bronson Reed got a hometown reaction, but nothing compared to what the tribal chief got. Walk into the ring with his two Olafalas on and he had that red and black wristband on. I pay attention to all those little details, you know what I mean? Because it felt like there was a connection between him and Jay USO and Jimmy uso going into this. It was the Australian street fight, which I wish had been called the Aussie rules street fight, but Australian street fight nonetheless, because we saw Roman was. Was chucking rugby balls at Paul Heyman and Bronson Reed, which is what, like in 2K you can make them throw footballs and stuff at each other, which is great.

[Sam Roberts]

So we had rugby, right?

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. And then we got cricket bat. Roman Reigns going to town with a cricket back. Cricket bat. Bronson Reed. And you know, Bronson Reed definitely came back strong at parts, but for the most part, the first two thirds, really of this match was pretty heavy. Roman like Roman teaching Bronson Reed a lesson.

[Sam Roberts]

And that's what I really wanted to see in this match was Roman teach him a lesson. Right? Because especially after what happened in Paris, Roman wins the match. But that's not what we're talking about when that match is over. We're talking about the fact that Roman Reigns got hit with a tsunami when he was on a stretcher.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, I remember. And I was hoping it I wouldn't have to remember because we would get to taste that. That beautiful, sweet taste of Venice.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, it felt like we were going to taste that.

[Megan Moran]

I know.

[Sam Roberts]

Part of the match.

[Megan Moran]

I know.

[Sam Roberts]

And then Bron Breaker showed up and that's really when all hell broke loose.

[Megan Moran]

But you had to know he was going to, right? It's an Australian street fight, no rules. Like there's no way he's not going to. And Roman Reigns had to know he was going to. Roman Reigns caught a very SHIELD esque powerbomb through the commentary table. Roman laid out by Bronson Reed and Braun Breaker.

[Sam Roberts]

And that was the moment I said, it's done. Roman can't get up from that.

[Megan Moran]

But he did though. And it was with the help of the Usos. Here come Jimmy and Jey. Uso. For a moment it seemed like they were on the same page, which they haven't. They've only been in bursts. They get on the same page for bursts, but it doesn't last. They were on the same page taking out Bron Bron. All is well until Bron Bron end up getting the better of the USO's. And you're like, oh no. Oh no. And now, and now Roman gets back into this thing and it's like, okay, well now Roman, they've taken. They've at least evened the odds enough so that Roman can get control again. And Paul Heyman is reacting to everything. I mean, the emotions that this guy was going through throughout the match, I can't imagine. It can't be good. It can't be good for your health. But then it happened. We were about to see a spear. I thought we were going to see a spear through the table, Right. But Bronson Reed is able to get out of prone position. He and Roman are fighting over it. Jay goes to spear Bronson Reed through the table, messes up. He spears his cousin, the tribal chief, the head of the table. Roman Reigns through that very table, ironically. And when Perth was chanting we want tables, this isn't what they wanted. You have to be careful of what you ask for.

[Sam Roberts]

As soon as they started chanting we want tables and then booing Bronson Reed, Bronson Reed put the table away.

[Megan Moran]

Well then you can't have tables is what he said. I said, that's cruel. That's cruel and unusual. Hits a tsunami. Bronson Reed beats Roman Reigns.

[Sam Roberts]

And what Cole said, it was the first time that Roman had been pinned in a singles match and since Cody.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, it's the first time he's been beaten in a. It's. It's of two people since the beginning of this whole thing have beaten Roman Reigns one on one. Cody and Bronson Reed and People want to doubt Bronson Reed of. Paul Heyman did say it after the match. This isn't Bron Breaker is the future and Bronson Reed is the muscle. Bronson Reed is the future. We saw, honestly, we saw what Bronson Reed did to Seth Rollins a few months ago. Now, not only did he. It was one thing to be like, well, Bronson Reed laid out Roman Reigns in France. I'm telling you, you get that big galoot overseas, you're in trouble. Because in Australia, he pinned Roman Reigns. He beat Roman Reigns with a tsunami straight up. And that's tough for me. I don't like to see that. I was mad. I was on the radio all week saying, what do I want to see? I want to see Smash and Stack. I want to see Roman go back to being Roman.

[Sam Roberts]

You wanted him to stack Bron.

[Megan Moran]

Bron stack everybody. Stack everybody on the roster. Remember when Roman just used to come out and beat everybody? It was a foregone conclusion. Roman's on the show. Well, he's going to beat everybody. The only reason to even have a podcast was just to discuss how is he going to beat everybody. But Roman's beating everybody and now it doesn't happen anymore. He goes to. He goes. I mean, he. He beat Solo in January at Netflix. But then what does he do after that? He goes to the Royal Rumble. He loses. He goes to. He goes to WrestleMania. He loses. He go. I mean, I. He goes to SummerSlam.

[Sam Roberts]

He had a win, but he didn't. He didn't get the.

[Megan Moran]

He's not the one who got it. It was Jay who got it. Yeah, he goes to France. I guess he won. It didn't look like it.

[Sam Roberts]

Nope.

[Megan Moran]

And now he's sitting here on the Revenge Tour and he lost. And then, you know, I thought. I thought it was really telling to me. I mean, coming off of that match and Roman sitting there in the ring and just like, you know, when this whole bloodline started, it started during the Pandemic era. And one of the things that made it different was because there were no fans in the audience. It was what was said, but not into a microphone that was so compelling. And that hasn't changed. Now that you have an arena full of people in Perth, Australia, there's still a hush to listen to what is being said in the ring between this family because it's so important to what's going on. And Roman, you know, there was a time when Roman said, I call the plays. And this was villainous. Roman Reigns, this was height of the bloodline Roman Reigns. That wasn't what he was saying. He said, nobody thinks I can do this on my own. I told you guys not to be out here. Like, when he said, nobody thinks I could do this on my own. Why are you guys keep doing I told you not to do this. And he did say it on Monday. So what he's saying now, he's actually getting into, like, maybe he's gone through some kind of therapy or something. Because he seems more in touch with his emotions. Because that's a moment of honesty and clarity when he goes, I am telling you guys not to interfere in my match. Not because, well, I'm the boss and I make the rules. And I say it's because the perception is that I only win matches due to interference. And that is not who I want to be. And so I don't want you guys out here. And by the way, I didn't even win. You screwed this up because he said this only work. Well, he said this. You know why he let an expletive out? This expletive only works one way. And I'm going, huh?

[Sam Roberts]

One way.

[Megan Moran]

And. And. And so I'm going. Like, I wonder exactly what he is referring to when he says this stuff only works one way. Is it, this only works if I can prove that I can do it on my own, or is it, there is no democracy here. If you guys are gonna have my back, it's a dictatorship.

[Sam Roberts]

You have to do exactly what I say.

[Megan Moran]

And you don't want to do exactly what I say. You don't want to be back in that relationship.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, because when you were in that relationship, Jay, uso, you weren't the world heavyweight champion and you left.

[Megan Moran]

And Jimmy, you're over here on Raw saying, I don't want Jay to be like you. Well, then, good. But then we can't have it halfway. No such thing as halfway, Crux. You can't have it halfway. We're either doing this or we're not doing it. And you guys are the one who doesn't want to do it. And I don't want to put you through that if you don't want to do it. But then you can't come in and pretend that we can do this differently. That's how I read it. And maybe I read it differently than Roman intended it, I don't know. But that's how I took it.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, and then I think back to Monday and when Roman told Jay, who's speaking at the top of the hour, and reminded him of that, and it's almost like he's sort of in this maybe mentor role for Jay. Like, this is what the top guy should be doing. You should be focused on that. Why are you thinking about me?

[Megan Moran]

Right?

[Sam Roberts]

Why aren't you thinking about yourself? And it seems like Jimmy and Jay continuously think about Roman. Obviously, because they're family and everything they've been through with the bloodline. But if it only works the way the old bloodline worked, it needs to end. If they all need to move forward.

[Megan Moran]

Okay, here's the other thing. It only works one way. What if it only works with the wise man? That was another thing that occurred to me. Look, I'm interpreting. That was the way that it worked when they were all together.

[Sam Roberts]

So this might be a crazy question to ask you of all people, but if it only works one way, can Roman do it alone?

[Megan Moran]

Well, that's. I think now what Roman has to prove that Roman can do it alone. The bloodline was the launching place for Roman Reigns because Roman Reigns was supposed to be the man in WWE and we didn't accept him. Fans booed him out of the building. He didn't become the guy until the bloodline started. So he couldn't. It didn't click before the bloodline. It clicked during the bloodline when he wasn't doing it alone. So now, coming off of the bloodline, the question is, are you the man without the bloodline?

[Sam Roberts]

During his entrance, it looks like he's the man I think he is. But you can't be losing matches like that if you're not.

[Megan Moran]

And you can't have the USO's out there. It just is what it is. And we got a taste of it at WrestleMania, but Paul Heyman turned on him. You know, there was this feeling at WrestleMania when he came out with no red on, when he came out with white and black on, when he came out by himself and his family was on the monitors. And he's still doing it for his family, but ultimately he's a man who stands on his own. And in that moment, you were like, yeah, I'm behind this. This is my guy. But things aren't just not lining up that way. That's what I want to see from Roman Reigns is this. This is the new incarnation of who and what Roman Reigns is. Roman Reigns is three acts. The first act is trying to get there. The second act is the bloodline. Now we need Act 3, where Roman is truly, you know what? It has to be the island of relevancy has to be an island. It has to be an island of one. Roman has to be. He has to go from being a member, a person who leads the island of relevancy to a man who is the island of relevancy.

[Sam Roberts]

Now I wonder what this does for Jimmy and Jey uso. Does this push them further apart?

[Megan Moran]

It seemed like it. It seemed like it because Jay walked out on Jimmy after it. Jay said he's done. I'm done too. It's not the first time Jay has quit on his family. But he said he's done. I'm done too. And he walked out on Jimmy. And it seemed like. I mean, it's really odd. It seemed like Jimmy's trying to keep the family together, but also wants to do it in a context that's not necessarily accurate.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

In the sense that like, well, Roman is who Roman is. You can't. You can't fight that. So I don't know. It's getting very, very interesting to me.

[Sam Roberts]

A lot of layers.

[Megan Moran]

A lot of layers. I do want to tell you, speaking of, of big events, that a big announcement was made for WWE fans and for sports fans in general that it's coming back. The world's number one sports fan festival, Fanatics Fest, is making its return to New York City. This is the place where moments are birthed. You never know what's going to happen. We got to be a big part of Fanatics Fest this year. So much fun. Remember my John Cena hug?

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, how could I forget?

[Megan Moran]

I'll never forget. That was one of those key Fanatics Fest moments. Fanatics is bringing you closer to the league's team superstars and athletes you love across four action packed days in July. Meet your favorite WWE Superstars. Get your hands on exclusive merch catch live podcasts. Let's try to angle this one on there and interact with the biggest names in sports. Tickets are going to go on sale this November soon. That's next month. So mark your calendar and don't miss out. Full information@fanatics fest.com. let me tell you something about those.

[Sam Roberts]

Four days this year.

[Megan Moran]

Four days.

[Sam Roberts]

An extra day.

[Megan Moran]

Extra day. And let me tell you something about those tickets. You know what? They make great stocking stuffers. They're going on sale in November. That's the move. Stephanie Vacair.

[Sam Roberts]

She's it. She is her.

[Megan Moran]

That's it. Huh?

[Sam Roberts]

She's it. Right?

[Megan Moran]

You go across the country and they're still going, ah, ah.

[Sam Roberts]

Not counting. So proud.

[Megan Moran]

They did a great job.

[Sam Roberts]

WWE Universe. So proud of Stephanie Vac here. Right? I mean, like you talk about emotion and feelings and. And I think we all had those. When Triple H is standing in the.

[Megan Moran]

Ring with La Primera, I believe it's Primavera.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. Chelsea Green.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, sorry.

[Sam Roberts]

Standing there with La Primera, you know, awarding her the Crown Jewel Championship. And it's just. Stephanie Vacair has had a year unlike any other WWE superstar.

[Megan Moran]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

Becoming a double champion in NXT to what she did at Evolve, to becoming the Women's World Champion, to now doing it on this stage internationally in Perth. And none of us have any doubts, any questions about who she is or where she belongs. And we just want to see more of Stephanie Vacair. I mean, I think when we had her on the show, it feels like this all happened quick. But the emotion from her and her telling her story about, you know, leaving her country and coming over and how hard she worked just to get to wwe, it. It's a dream come true for her. And you feel that every time she's in front of us.

[Megan Moran]

I love when these moments happen, especially for the first time for. For different superstars looking at them and figuring out if they're ready for it. And, like, there's no moment that's been too big for Stephanie Vacair. When she won the Women's World Championship, it was like, you look at her and you just feel like, yep, that's where she should be. And now you see her. I mean, Cole said it on commentary. Fifteen months in the wwe, and not only is she Women's World Champion, she's crowned Jewel Champion. She's champion of championship. She's La Primera.

[Sam Roberts]

And she defeated Tiffany Stratton, who Perth Australia loves. And that's where Tiffy Time was really born.

[Megan Moran]

I would agree.

[Sam Roberts]

And this is a Tiffany Stratton who hasn't lost in 2025.

[Megan Moran]

That's a good point, too. And she was. I mean, there were. I mean, there were a couple of moments in this match. Man, Tiffany finding her way to that Alabama Slam was nuts. Like, just the. Just the. The spins and the flips and the. Everything. It was. It was. I don't even understand how bodies move like that, but it was. It was awesome to see the build to the Devil's Kiss, Wade Barrett's favorite move, Booker T's favorite move, Perth Australia's favorite move, the build to that move where. Where midway through the match, it was teased and Tiffany escaped it. You go, huh?

[Sam Roberts]

Oh.

[Megan Moran]

And then you go, oh, my God, it's happening. Twist. Ah, ah, ah. Amazing. Tiff at the end Mrs. With that prettiest Moonsault ever, which I love.

[Sam Roberts]

The prettiest moonsault ever. I think it's an incredible finisher.

[Megan Moran]

I do too.

[Sam Roberts]

But then when Stephanie Vaccare gets to the top rope and hits her svp, I go, whoa.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, just. Yeah, just corkscrewing.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

Like nuts. In, in. In midair. I, I'm trying to figure out the degrees and the rotations to it and everything.

[Sam Roberts]

My protractor out.

[Megan Moran]

That's right. Yeah. That compass, like. Okay, let's.

[Sam Roberts]

Which angle is that?

[Megan Moran]

We both look like Magellan. Figure out what, what the angle and the dynamic. Like, how many degrees did that spin?

[Sam Roberts]

You always got to keep a protractor in your pocket.

[Megan Moran]

Well, you have to. You really do have to for moments like this.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. You never know.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, you're right. You're 100% right. Yeah. And then, and, but now I got pencil marks all over my television. But yeah, having that moment happen. Triple H coming out, kind of putting the stamp on that. And like, it's, it's, it's wild because the future of the women's division becomes the present of the women's division, but the present of the women's division is already what the present of the women's division is, if that all makes sense. Like, it's, it's, it's a. The women's division itself moves so quickly that I feel like it almost becomes like a multiverse that slams into each other in the sense that you're like, you, you start with these sort of like you're watching nxt, you, and you go, you know, one day this superstar who just started in NXT will have a match with this person who's like a world champion level superstar on the main roster. And like eight months later, you're there. You know what I mean? The one days are just like rapid fire. They're like you at a marathon. They're just speeding right by.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I feel like the women's division has really arrived. Right. It's like you think back and everything Trish and Lita did, and then you think of the four horse women and you think of really this women's evolution that's happened. And now I think this combination of you have Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, and you have Tiffany Stratton. You have this combination of wrestling backgrounds and athleticism and it's all together. And we're seeing these women who have experience at the top of their game, but then we're seeing some people who have more of an athletic background taking well to this. And it's all meshing so beautifully together. And I think it's creating a division with a lot of depth. I think every time I do a podcast, they say depth in the women's division. I'm, like, so sick of saying it because it seems like a cliche, but you just look up and down the roster, and that's exactly what you have in different types women's wrestlers you're looking.

[Megan Moran]

At, especially as it's ever changing. Like, Tiffany Stratton has only been here for a minute herself, but like, you look at. At. At a Stephanie Vacair or a Julia or a. Or a Sol Ruka or a Zarya, and you look at everything that's happening around all of them, and I think that it's. It's a huge disruption in the division in the best possible way. But I truly think that Stephanie Vacair is the biggest disruptor of all, because you don't look at her and go, oh, boy, this is quick. Oh, I didn't think she'd win the title this quick. You look at her and you go, the top tier of the women's division has changed. Stephanie Vicaire is now in the conversation for that top tier of the women's division, and she's not going anywhere. When you talk about the women that are going to main event WrestleMania, not 43, not 44, not 45, this within months in Las Vegas at 42, Stephanie Vacair is the name you should be talking about. It's ridiculous to think that she won't be in the mix.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

For the main event, as far as the women are concerned. For the. For WrestleMania 42. And I think that. That. And we'll get to the tag match in just a second. But when you look at that tag match, nobody in that tag match. Would you go, stephanie Vacara doesn't belong in the conversation with them. She's in that conversation.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. And then to get back to the depth of it. Right. Like. And we're going to talk about this match, but you have someone like Oscar, who's part of the past, present and future of this women's division division still performing at the highest level, which is.

[Megan Moran]

How rapid the women's division goes.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

Right. Let's get into the tag match. Right. You had Kyrie and Oscar versus EO and Rhea Ripley, and we were all waiting for it. I mean, listen, I. It's kind of. It's one of those, like, you know, duh type of observations, but you still. It bears repeating. As the White Stripes would say, Ria Ripley might Be the biggest. I mean, star in wrestling.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

There is just something about it. It's, it's. The children call it aura, the star power, the, the, the. The magnetism. The. What it is, there is nobody like it. You could take anybody. You could take somebody that's never watched professional wrestling a day in their life, and here are the people that they're going to look at and go, like, got it. Roman Reigns. Anybody sees Roman Reigns, it's like, oh, that's the guy. Cody Rhodes. Anybody sees Cody Rhodes, they go, I get the connection. I think that's what Cody Rhodes exudes. He exudes his story, his journey and his connection. And Rhea Ripley, the minute the purple lights go up and the camera pans up and she just turns around, you become a. Like, she's one of those people that I guarantee anybody in the world, you folks at home experiment with this. Anybody that's in your life that doesn't watch wrestling just put on Rhea Ripley's entrance and I guarantee this is what the response will be. I think I like wrestling. Now. That's the power that Rhea Ripley has, maybe more than anybody else on the roster.

[Sam Roberts]

It's the slightest movement of her. Her eyes. When she looks up during her entrance.

[Megan Moran]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

After she does the stomp.

[Megan Moran]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

She looks up.

[Megan Moran]

You know, the look, you're sold. You know what I'm talking. The fact that you know exactly the millisecond that I'm talking about says it all, doesn't it?

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

Like, we all are like. Like you're transfixed.

[Sam Roberts]

Stomps the leg, looks up at the camera.

[Megan Moran]

Yes. And she's in Australia, so the crowd's going like bananas for her. As they should. And they look like bananas in those yellow T shirts.

[Sam Roberts]

But it is crazy. Cole said, the biggest superstar to ever come out of this country.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. Continent.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

It's.

[Sam Roberts]

It's inarguable.

[Megan Moran]

Bigger than Luke or Butch of the Bushwhackers.

[Sam Roberts]

Inarguable, right?

[Megan Moran]

Yes. 100%. 100%. Outback Jack, Luke and Butch. Bronson, Reed.

[Sam Roberts]

Grayson.

[Megan Moran]

Grayson Waller. It's Rhea. Now, look, Rhea Ripley's never beaten Roman Reigns. Bronson Reed did, but. But, yeah, it is 100% Rhea. And she exudes that and she carries it and she owns it. And it is an amazing thing to see. We spent a lot of time building towards Rhea Ripley getting into the match. You know, we were waiting for it. Waiting for it. Waiting for it. Of course, while we were waiting for it, we get treated to Iyo sky being like, maybe the best wrestler in the world. And the thing, look, Kyrie took a lot of the offense.

[Sam Roberts]

Poor Kyrie. She's been support Kyrie abuse.

[Megan Moran]

There's no abuse. She's an adult. She's a wrestler teaming with another wrestler. Okay? They're a great tag team. What is this abuse? Okay, she's in a top level tag team match at Crown Jewel. One of the biggest ples there is. It's only a five match card. And Kyrie is on one of the biggest matches.

[Sam Roberts]

But because she's.

[Megan Moran]

And she's by the way, in there kicking ass. So like, like, like, you know, because they're doing this on commentary, doing this all over. Michael Cole's over there going like, whoa.

[Sam Roberts]

You know, Kyrie hid behind Michael Cole at the kickoff show.

[Megan Moran]

I know anything about the kickoff show. I don't anything about that. I saw her in the ring. Maybe she's got stage fright.

[Sam Roberts]

Kyrie has been abused by Oscar.

[Megan Moran]

There's no abuse.

[Sam Roberts]

But she can't get out.

[Megan Moran]

She shouldn't get out. She was great in this match.

[Sam Roberts]

She was. She was excellent.

[Megan Moran]

She did.

[Sam Roberts]

But she had to be excellent. Otherwise she has to face the wrath of Oscar.

[Megan Moran]

And listen, everybody has to be excellent. This is the wwe. Everyone has to be excellent. If you're not excellent, get to step in, go someplace else.

[Sam Roberts]

And on top of that, she has to deal with the wrath of Asuka, which no one is ready for.

[Megan Moran]

Asuka, historically, no one has been ready for Oscar. You're right. And it would appear that even in the present tense, you remain correct. Nobody is ready for Oscar. And I wonder if Oscar will be very upset because Kyrie is the one that took the pin.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. And, and, and EO was the one who pinned Kyrie.

[Megan Moran]

Were you surprised by that?

[Sam Roberts]

When I think of the story, no.

[Megan Moran]

Tell me why.

[Sam Roberts]

If you just put it on paper, it's like, oh, I would say Rhea Ripley is going to get the pin because it's in Australia.

[Megan Moran]

Let's get these Aussies going crazy.

[Sam Roberts]

This is what the people want. Give them what they want. But the story of this entire match was that Iyo had to leave her family. Her family is the Kabuki Warriors. And so if Iyo needed to prove a point to her family, that she can do this without Asuka, that she can do this without Kyrie, that she can be on her own, that while Asuka mentored her, and while Asuka opened the door for her, Iyo took that and ran. And Iyo should be credited with the success that she has earned and that she has created. For herself. So for her to get the pin over the Kabuki Warriors, I think was crucial in the story of Iyo Sky.

[Megan Moran]

I like that. I like that reasoning. And I'm. And. And with that reasoning, it does make me glad. I think there is a bigger story to be told with Iyo being the one that gets the pin and the continuous build of Iyo Sky. Right. And the. And the sort of continuous way to showcase the fact that she is that good, that she is. Once in a lifetime, once in a generation, however you want to phrase it.

[Sam Roberts]

Now, I love the idea of Rhea getting the pin in front of Australia. That's a moment for her. But at this point in time, given the story that we're telling heading into this tag match, I think it was important that Iyo gets the pin.

[Megan Moran]

What do you think about the fact that Rhea Ripley can't beat Iyo sky and Iyo sky is the one that got the pin in the tag tag match.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, this is what I've been pointing out to you. Interesting that Rhea is so just such a good friend of Eos. She's a good person and she had.

[Megan Moran]

She's a nice guy. What happens to nice guys?

[Sam Roberts]

They finish last sometimes. Rhea had on her face paint Rio.

[Megan Moran]

Rio. That's right. That's right. Although historically, when she paints other people's names on her face, it doesn't end well.

[Sam Roberts]

What? I mean, didn't end well for your guy. Dom.

[Megan Moran]

For her, she lost Dom.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, Rhea seems to be doing just fine.

[Megan Moran]

She's probably pretty upset about it. I would be.

[Sam Roberts]

She didn't look upset today at all. Didn't look.

[Megan Moran]

I'll give you that. She actually looked pretty thrilled today about how everything had panned out. Well, I was pretty thrilled about it. Great show. Great. Hang here on the crown jewel recap show. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast. Podcast across all audio platforms. We'll be back on Monday with Raw recap. And that'll be another early show because Monday Night Raw will be at 8am Eastern time. So I'll be able to wake up early, pour our lucky charms in a bowl, watch Dominic Mysterio beat Penta, and just get Monday started off right. But we'll be here to recap Monday Night Raw. If you're watching on YouTube, leave comments, hit like, and we will see you very, very soon on RAW recap. Cap.