John Cena shows NO REMORSE in last match with Randy Orton: Backlash Recap

Summary

Raw Recap with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant

Episode: John Cena shows NO REMORSE in last match with Randy Orton: Backlash Recap
Date: May 11, 2025

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Overview

This episode of "Raw Recap" dives deep into WWE Backlash, focusing on John Cena’s controversial win over Randy Orton in what’s billed as their final match. Hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant debate Cena’s actions, the emotional aftermath, and the match’s historical context. The episode also features a lively interview with United States Champion Jacob Fatu, quick takes on Raw’s other marquee matches and moments, live reactions to press conference chaos between Cena and R-Truth, and special guest analysis with Big E.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John Cena vs. Randy Orton – A Bitter Final Chapter

• Historical Perspective and Emotional Weight

  • The hosts set the scene, highlighting the significance of Cena vs. Orton as a generational rivalry finally (ostensibly) coming to an end in St. Louis.
  • Sam reminisces about their origins from OVW, noting how their respective paths seemed different but led to the same destination: “It was just two different ways to go to the exact same destination. ...John Cena is the one the era is defined by.” (06:09)

• Match Breakdown & Cena’s Actions

  • The match is described as a classic, three-act wrestling story with both signature finishers hitting at the same time (Attitude Adjustment and RKO), escalated violence (tables, belt shots), and multiple referee knockouts.
  • Notably, Cena opens the bout feigning sportsmanship but pokes Orton in the eye—a role reversal for the two.
    • "Who would have thought in their last match, Randy's the one who trusts John for the handshake, and John's the one who shoves his thumb in Randy Orton's eye." — Sam Roberts (09:04)

• Controversial Finish & Aftermath

  • Cena retains via low blow and a belt shot, leaving fans deflated.
  • Post-match, Cena appears conflicted, potentially remorseful:
    • “He looked...exhausted. He looked like he was questioning...this is kind of how it ends. ...You wonder if he's starting to have a little bit of that buyer’s remorse.” — Sam Roberts (06:09)
  • Megan picks up on the ambiguity:
    • “There was a moment on his face, it said to me, ‘Is this really the way I'm saying goodbye?...Is this really how I'm closing the book on St. Louis?’” (07:32)

2. Backlash Chaos – Interference & Authority Breakdown

• Nick Aldis & Mass Official Mayhem
  Multiple refs get knocked out, Nick Aldis and a horde of agents attempt to restore order, but Orton delivers RKOs all around—evoking "Stone Cold in ’98.”
  • “I thought it was stone cold in '98. I couldn't believe it.” — Sam Roberts (15:20)
• R-Truth’s Shocking Involvement
  R-Truth runs in, eating an RKO in a futile attempt to aid Cena (“he cost Randy Orton the WWE Championship,” per Sam) (18:09).

3. Cena Press Conference – R-Truth Confronts Cena

• [48:08-51:59]
  • Live, John Cena attempts a rare display of contrition, claiming he wants to be “more accepting and empathetic,” when R-Truth interrupts to congratulate him, jokingly adding, “Even if people say you suck and can’t wrestle.”
  • Cena, incensed, assaults R-Truth with an Attitude Adjustment through a press conference table.
  • Sam explodes: “What a piece of garbage. What a bad guy. I told you he's a bad guy. This guy sucks.” (50:22)
  • The segment cements Cena as a heel in the eyes of the hosts.

4. Jacob Fatu – United States Champion Interview

[21:55-39:42]

• Sam and Megan welcome Jacob Fatu ("fresh off a successful defense") for a heartfelt, high-energy interview.

Highlights:

• On Finally Making It in WWE

  • “It's mind blowing. ...To hear that [fans chanting Fatu], man, it's mind blowing. ...That’s our last name. ...God damn, does it feel good, though?” — Jacob Fatu (23:09)

• On Pride, Family, and Distinguishing Himself

  • “You're gonna feel everything that I've been through. ...When you bring up my name, you're going, ‘Okay, yeah, we know who USO is.’ You know, we know his story...But that ain't even just my story, man. There's a lot of young cats out there...” (24:24)
  • On taking moves from his family: “What's new has been forgotten...I'm just taking a little bit something from my family and just added it, you know, just giving my own ...flavor.” (29:02)

• On His Signature Moonsault

  • “Gangrel, he had me doing it with no crash pad...By the grace of God, you know, everything's been going smooth, but it's just me more believing in my work, believing in my craft...” (30:51)

• On Bloodline Drama & Solo Sikoa/Jeff Cobb

  • Jacob demurs on the Solo/Cobb alliance developments: “I'm gonna keep it 100. I don't even want to speak on that...I can't tell you if I don't know anything...” (35:03)

• Vision for the Future

  • “Let's not forget who I was in the ring with...These men had made a name for themselves...So I feel like I stepped up my game....Whoever want it, come on, come get it. ...My whole life has just been happening organically, you know, just going with the flow, but also just playing my position...” (37:54)

5. Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch – Women’s Title Drama

[47:01-54:46]

• “Get them wangs out!” — Sam, referencing Lyra’s signature look and persona (47:01)
• The hosts praise the storytelling: Lyra defeats her idol Becky in a hard-fought bout (including a notably difficult second-rope moonsault).
• Becky, showing sour grapes, attacks Lyra post-match and tries to break her arm:
  • “Becky lynch is just making enemies everywhere...She tried to break her arm after breaking her nose. ...Becky lynch, the bad guy.” — Sam Roberts (55:12)

6. Pat McAfee vs. Gunther – Special Guest Analyst: Big E

[58:29-63:47]

• Big E joins to analyze Pat McAfee’s gutsy but doomed effort versus Gunther.
• “Look, anyone who does this for a living...Even me...It's been three years since I've been in the ring—to expect that I could just get off the couch and wrestle Gunther...I would expect that I would also be stretchered out.” — Big E (59:16)
• Praises Pat’s heart, noting that Gunther eventually had to put him to sleep—a parallel to Gunther’s finish at WrestleMania.
• Big E and hosts agree Gunther's post-match “nod” suggests respect and closure.
  • “I think he gave them the nod saying, this is behind us. Let's move forward.” — Meghan Morant (66:51)

7. Dom Mysterio Retains Intercontinental Title (vs. Penta)

• Dom gets cheered (“over 17,000 in St. Louis”), despite Megan’s preference for his previous heel heat (69:31).
• Finn Balor’s interference backfires (he "farted around" too long with a chair and gets Judgment Day ejected).
• Discussion of Penta’s entrance (“Coolest in WWE, I’m saying it.” — Megan, 70:20), Grande Americano’s interference, and speculation on alliances.
• Sam notes the deeper backstory tying Chad Gable and Dom via lucha libre connections (73:06).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cena-Orton's Ending (07:32):
  “There was a moment on his face...is this really the way that I'm saying goodbye to all these...for a moment?” — Meghan Morant

• Cena’s press conference heel turn (50:22):
  “What a piece of garbage. What a bad guy. I told you he's a bad guy. This guy sucks.” — Sam Roberts

• Jacob Fatu’s gratitude (23:09):
  “To hear that [fans chanting], man, it’s mind-blowing. ...God damn, does it feel good, though?”

• On being himself (27:15):
  “I feel like people gravitate [to] me because just I’m myself...be yourself.” — Jacob Fatu

• Big E on Gunther-McAfee (59:16):
  “To expect that I could just get off the couch and wrestle Gunther...I would expect that I would also be stretchered out.”

• Becky Lynch’s “passing of the torch” refusal (55:12):
  “She's not interested in passing the torch, and she told us so much.” — Sam Roberts

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Important Timestamps

• Cena vs. Orton main segment: 00:03 – 20:28
• Jacob Fatu interview: 21:55 – 39:42
• John Cena press conference & R-Truth brawl: 48:08 – 51:59
• Pat McAfee vs. Gunther w/ Big E: 58:29 – 63:47
• Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch recap: 47:01 – 54:46
• Dominik Mysterio match & aftermath: 69:27 – 73:54

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Tone & Style

• Humorous, passionate, and fan-focused.
• Sam is often melodramatic and direct—calls Cena a “bad guy,” mocks antics, and revels in wrestling chaos.
• Meghan provides thoughtful, sometimes empathetic counterpoints and fuels playful debates, especially about R-Truth and Dom Mysterio.
• Banter is fast-paced, packed with jokes and allusions, but grounded in real wrestling insight.

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Summary Conclusion

This jam-packed Backlash recap episode captures the chaos, emotion, and underlying storylines shaping WWE on Netflix. The ending of the Cena-Orton rivalry blends nostalgia, heel drama, and possible regret, while the interview with Jacob Fatu brings raw authenticity and family pride to the fore. Cena’s on-air explosion and the explosive press conference moment with R-Truth define his new villainous edge. Analyses of Pat McAfee’s effort, Becky vs. Lyra’s torch struggles, and Dom Mysterio’s evolving relationship with the fans round out a true “backstage pass” to the current state of WWE’s Monday Night Raw.

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For more reactions and fallout, listen to the Raw recap every week—new episodes drop Monday night after Raw on Netflix.

Transcript

[Biggie]

David.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. Have you ever noticed that the way we use our phones is ironic? Phones are for connection, but we look at them more than we look at each other. That's ironic. Griffin, it's like rain on your wedding day. Listen. That's ironic. So U.S. cellular created U.S. mode to help us reconnect, you and I. That's right. A phone company wanting people to use their phones, less ironic. A phone company wanting people to use their phones, less ironic. But let's find US again with US mode from US Cellular. Visit us cellular.com/built for us to get started. What are the other things that are ironic? John Cena continues to ruin wrestling. Becky lynch absolutely lost it. Pat McAfee gave all that one can give. Jaco 2 is on the show. And Dominik Mysterio is still your intercontinental champion. This is the WWE Backlash recap, brought to you by Fanatics. Welcome to the Backlash recap here as part of the Raw recap feed. Meghan Morant, Sam Roberts. We literally just tore ourselves away from the screen, taking in all the Backlash had to offer, and John Cena has once again ruined it. I thought Michael Cole's call was great because you know what really sucked about the fact that, once again, it's a low blow, it's a hit with the belt. It's that leading up to it, it was so great. To me, it really was kind of paying off on everything that a John Cena, Randy Orton match could be. I want. Because there were people, right? That. Especially after WrestleMania and how everybody felt about that finish, there were plenty of people that were like, oh, well, if John Cena is ruining wrestling, what if they go back to a trick that Randy Orton once pulled and John Cena just knocks out the referee and then the match is over in dq. And I'm like, look, I was worried. You were.

[Meghan Morant]

Well, it's John Cena and Randy Orton in St. Louis, right?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, I spent this week watching the John Cena, Randy Orton rivals, catching up on all the things I missed about the history between these two guys. And I'm like, this is gonna be awesome.

[Sam Roberts]

I heard there are good people on that show.

[Meghan Morant]

Great people. Peter Rosenberg is on that show.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, is it? I didn't notice.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah, Peter Rosenberg. Oh, I think.

[Sam Roberts]

Was it.

[Meghan Morant]

Was it Peter or was it you?

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know, some bald guy with a beard. Anyway, who could tell the difference?

[Meghan Morant]

I was saying I was worried because as the anticipation started to build towards this match, I kept remembering, John Cena wants to ruin wrestling.

[Sam Roberts]

I know, I know. And it's like, how far is he gonna go with it? Like I said, there's no way that John Cena's gonna ruin wrestling at the expense. Cause it would be at the expense of the whole Backlash show. And it wasn't at the expense of the whole Backlash show. But it was like we could have had this beautiful boat. And I think like when we first found out that this was gonna be John Cena's last year, the John Cena, Randy Orton match was a has to happen scenario.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

But I think, at least in my world and generally, I think people kind of agreed with me. Maybe not everybody, but I said, what could be better for a last match and a poetic thing? And they just have this great match and, and, and the, the better man wins and they hug and ever. And that wasn't, that wasn't what we got. Instead, we got an epic journey, which we'll talk about. But in the end, regardless of how many RKOs, regardless of how many attempted punts there were, it was a nutshot and a hit with a championship belt. And once again, John Cena leaves with the WWE Championship.

[Meghan Morant]

It does leave a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. And it hurts. The. Wow. Nevermind. So I thought before we get into the match, like the closing moments of Backlash and going into the post show, I really enjoyed watching John Cena leave because as John Cena was leaving, he got out of the ring and it was almost like it's. For me watching it as somebody that, I mean, really clearly remembers John Cena and Randy Orton first arriving on main roster. WWWE coming from OVW and John Cena and Randy Orton having this rivalry that was kind of baked in to who they were. And it wasn't just Randy's the bad guy and John's the good guy, because it was that. But it was also two young guys that were both. I mean, at that point, WWE had been in this position where it had been just massive stars piled on top of each other. Rock Austin, Foley, Undertaker, Sean Hunter, they were all there. And then all of a sudden it was up for the taking and you had John Cena and Randy Orton, whether they were fighting each other or not, both trying to be that guy that took it.

[Meghan Morant]

And I think you pointed this out in the episode of Rivals. It might have been Peter Rosenberg, but.

[Sam Roberts]

I think it was probably me.

[Meghan Morant]

I think it was you. You said that these guys pretty much had a similar path and they were on the rise together. And people didn't realize it until their Paths crossed. Crossed.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. Because it was so. The paths looked so different.

[Meghan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

But it was just two different ways to go to the exact same destination. And I mean, I think John Cena is the one that hit the destination. Right. In terms of. He's kind of who the era is defined by. He's the one that hit, has hit 17 championship wins. But for me, the match that we saw lived up to that. And like I said, I was kind of thinking about all of that as I was watching the match. But then when John Cena got down and was on the. On the floor of the arena outside of the ring and looking at the championship, his face like he looked. For a moment, it seemed like he shook it off, but he looked broken. He looked exhausted. He looked like he was questioning. It was almost this moment where he realized, like, not right now, because John Cena is this bad guy right now. And he would tell you, no, I'm not a bad guy. I'm just telling you my ear, he's a bad guy. But it was almost like for a second he realized, like, this is it. I'm not going to be in St. Louis wrestling again. I'm not probably, I would imagine, unless it happens within the next, whatever, seven months, I'm not going to be wrestling Randy Orton again. And this is kind of how it ends. And you wonder if he's starting to have a little bit of that buyer's remorse, if he's starting to realize that we're not the only ones affected by that clock going down, that John is realizing that that clock is going down. And every day that he spends trying to make our lives, the fans lives miserable is almost like this other little tick that's being ticked off of his legacy.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. A little part of him.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, look, I mean, maybe I'm.

[Sam Roberts]

Looking too much into it, but that's how I took it.

[Meghan Morant]

There was a moment on his face, it said to me, is this really the way that I'm saying goodbye to all these. For a moment?

[Sam Roberts]

No, I agree.

[Meghan Morant]

Just a moment. Is this really the way that I'm closing the chapter with Randy Orton? Is this really the way that I'm closing the book on St. Louis? I don't know.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. I. And I, and I agree with that.

[Meghan Morant]

All of his actions show us that he's not remorseful whatsoever.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Meghan Morant]

But the look on his face.

[Sam Roberts]

Right? And sometimes it's those moments, it's easy to convince yourself that something's right, but sometimes the bigger picture hits you. I don't know. And it'll be very interesting to see, you know, because he was also talking about competition and needing. And you know, he got the mic after his match and needing competition. And it. And it is a question, right, if he's in a position where he's not one for rematches. It's like, you came back, you won the chamber, you beat Cody Rhodes, you beat Randy Orton. It's almost like, okay, you've decided to start at the top and you're taking out the best. And if it's not about how you do it, it's just about the W or the L. He's got W's over, like the two top guys. Yeah, there's that list of who is realistic to be in there with him is getting smaller and smaller. So the match, I mean, from the beginning I thought Cena going for the handshake and it was almost like, okay, are we putting character work aside? Are we putting the immediate aside and just going like, yeah, it is Randy and John, one more time, they should shake hands.

[Meghan Morant]

I thought that's what was happening.

[Sam Roberts]

But who would have thought in their last match, Randy's the one who trusts John for the handshake, and John's the one who shoves his thumb in Randy Orton's eye. I mean, talk about the roles being reversed. I don't think that that would have even, even come up in the, in the Magic 8 Ball when you were asking it questions. But we start with John Cena's thumb in Randy Orton's eye. I thought that. I don't know that I've ever seen a series of yaboo reverse chin locks, but just watching the two of them go. Reverse chin lock.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Reverse chin lock.

[Meghan Morant]

Boo.

[Sam Roberts]

Reverse chin lock.

[Jacob Fatu]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, that was amazing. And we got this great back and forth. We got this great Randy Cena match.

[Meghan Morant]

And it was a match that really built.

[Sam Roberts]

It did. It did. And it.

[Meghan Morant]

And you feel throughout the anticipation continued to grow throughout.

[Sam Roberts]

It was like a good three act story.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

And you can fight like I was like watching a movie and going like, oh. I felt that that was the transition into Act 2.

[Meghan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

And when I watched this, to me, the transition into the next act was John Cena hitting the attitude adjustment, but Randy Orton bringing him down with the RKO at the same time, that was when it was like, okay, we've reached a different place in this match. Now both finishes hit at the exact same time. They're both laid out and where do we go from here?

[Meghan Morant]

And when you saw it, you said, I want more RKOs and that's exactly what we got in Act 2. The RKO kept on coming, right?

[Sam Roberts]

So that's when chicanery is afoot because the ref goes down.

[Meghan Morant]

John Patton.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, he can't stay on his feet to save his life. Poor guy.

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, Cody Rhodes would still be our champion if he could figure it out.

[Sam Roberts]

Was he the referee at WrestleMania? Oh, come on, come on.

[Meghan Morant]

I know.

[Sam Roberts]

Guy needs a break, right? Give him a break. Not just a break.

[Meghan Morant]

Is Cena paying him off? What's going on?

[Sam Roberts]

I hope not because he keeps getting hit in the head by John Cena. No money is worth that. So he goes down, gets back up, goes down again. This time hits his head on the stairs.

[Meghan Morant]

Ouch.

[Sam Roberts]

John Cena goes through part of the announced table. Look like half. Randy Orton finds an announce, a folding table under the ring.

[Meghan Morant]

Very happy with this. Because the great people of St. Louis did not chant we want tables during. During this match. Thank God they did during the show, but not during this match.

[Sam Roberts]

Don't chant we want tables. Like we'll get the tables when it's appropriate time for tables. Everybody know it's a given that we want tables. We know, we know that there's never been a wrestling show where somebody pulls a table out and the audience goes, oh, we didn't want that. That's never happened. It never will happen. It's an exciting thing to say. It's the top piece of furniture as far as wrestling is concerned. Oh, I didn't want a table. Has never been set out of a wrestling fan's mouth. We got it. You want tables. Everybody knows they'll come when they come. And one arrived from out, from under the ring table comes out and seeing not only Cena go through the table, but Randy hitting that attitude adjustment on John Cena going through the table thought was great. They get back in the ring. Randy, I think he hit an rko. And I love, you know, Charles Robinson has one of the all time referee runs. I think it was, I want to say wrestlemania24ish.

[Meghan Morant]

His hair still looks the same.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean his everything, his everything looks exactly the same. He doesn't age at all, but I mean, he ran. Some of those aisle ways are long. He ran. Eddie Arango had one tonight where you just saw. And I love when you can see the aisle and Eddie is just hoofing it down. 1, 2. I thought his shoulder was going to throw out and didn't hit the three. Didn't hit the three. Randy's going, where were you? John gets the belt when he's not looking. He loves getting that championship. Randy ducks the shot, and Eddie gets hit in the head with the WWE Championship. Now, at this point, this is the second referee to get laid out. The third time a referee has gotten laid out. Nick Aldis says something has to stop. Here comes Nick Aldis and his whole band of merry men. He brought everybody out. He brought.

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, and there was a moment, I'm thinking, why are so many people coming out?

[Sam Roberts]

Is this necessary, really?

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, yes. Randy Orton and John Cena are two of the best that we've ever seen do it, but do we need this many people?

[Sam Roberts]

We don't need any people. I was annoyed. I would thank God for Randy Orton as soon as Nick Aldis showed up, I said, I love Nick Aldis, but what's he doing? This is a WWE Championship match.

[Jacob Fatu]

This.

[Sam Roberts]

This is John Cena versus Randy Orton. Get your guys out of here. Send another referee in or hire new ones. This is what you should do. Get on one of those recruiter websites. Hire new referees.

[Meghan Morant]

Zip. Recruiter.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, Just keep sending them out, sending them out, sending them out.

[Meghan Morant]

Go to the pen. Let's go.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't care. Get some more shirts made.

[Meghan Morant]

South Paul.

[Sam Roberts]

All right, let's get some special referees out there. Throw a cameraman in there. All you have to do is count at this point. Just keep sending referees out. This is John Cena versus Randy Orton in St. Louis. Don't come out. And obviously, Randy Orton was feeling the same way that I was, because then Randy's like, nick, what are you doing? What are you doing? This is my championship match. I'm fighting John Cena here. And by the way, I'm beating him. What are you doing? And Nick's like, oh, I got to take care of the referees. Boom. Nick eats an rko. I do not believe this. RKO was prepaid. No, the second RKO was prepaid.

[Meghan Morant]

This was a third, though, I think. Do you think he's gonna get fined for it?

[Sam Roberts]

He's got to.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

But here's the thing. Randy's doing very well financially.

[Meghan Morant]

Good for him.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, he's fine for it. Are you kidding me? You don't. Main event backlash because you're strapped for cash. Okay. Randy's doing very well for himself.

[Meghan Morant]

So we see. We see Hurricane.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean that. Because now, once you've done it, you've done it. We're getting into six figures as far as fines go. Like, I don't even like. It's almost like, at this point, for the Amount of fine Randy Orton would have to have. It's just. It's a mortgage.

[Meghan Morant]

I think all of St. Louis will just pay for it.

[Sam Roberts]

I think so, too. I think so, too. I think you go to City hall.

[Meghan Morant]

Pass the hat around, whatever.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I think they'll do it.

[Meghan Morant]

17,000 strong there.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, if everybody puts in a couple bucks, I think we'll be okay. Yeah, you know, because we got. I mean, everybody. Everybody was out there eating it. Nick Aldis, like you said, Hurricane. I saw Davari out there. I saw Jamie Noble out there. I saw all these guys coming out in their suits thinking their days of combat were long past them. All of them could get it. Every single one of them was eating an RKO. I thought it was stone cold in 98. I couldn't believe it. So once everybody's laid out, it's like, okay, are we good now? And by the way, by the way, message sent. Many more officials. Did you see come out after that?

[Meghan Morant]

0.

[Sam Roberts]

Donut 0.

[Meghan Morant]

The officials had to figure it out.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, brother. Referee. Or tell that one to wake up.

[Meghan Morant]

Not helping.

[Sam Roberts]

Because we're. Yeah, we're doing this match whether you like it or not. And then Randy. Randy realizes that John Cena is struggling. He's going to get up, and Randy goes for the punt. And who makes the save? You know, sometimes these people, they hide in plain sight. R Truth.

[Meghan Morant]

The best.

[Sam Roberts]

No, not the best. Not the best.

[Meghan Morant]

I love R Truth so much. I loved how last night on smackdown, he had a Cena sign. I mean, this is his childhood hero. He can't give it up.

[Sam Roberts]

It's not his childhood hero. He's the same age as John Cena. What are you talking about? He was wrestling before John Cena. I saw it.

[Meghan Morant]

It's.

[Sam Roberts]

He was gay quick. He was gay quick.

[Meghan Morant]

It is.

[Sam Roberts]

I saw him. He was wrestling before John Cena.

[Meghan Morant]

I've talked to Truth about this, and John Cena is his childhood hero.

[Sam Roberts]

It's not possible. He was a tna.

[Meghan Morant]

He looks very young to me.

[Sam Roberts]

Truth. Yeah, he looks fantastic. That's not for debate. But that doesn't mean anything.

[Meghan Morant]

His childhood hero.

[Sam Roberts]

It isn't. It's not even my childhood hero.

[Meghan Morant]

Ask the truth. It's his childhood hero.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, well.

[Meghan Morant]

And he was willing to eat an RKO for his childhood hero. Would you eat an RKO for your childhood hero? Who was your childhood hero?

[Sam Roberts]

Michelangelo from the Ninja Turtles.

[Meghan Morant]

And would you eat an RKO from Michelangelo?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[John Cena]

Mike's a part.

[Meghan Morant]

All right. That's what we saw. Our truth for tonight.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, but mine was actually true.

[Meghan Morant]

Our Truth keeps questioning our truth.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, who would have thought Our Truth, who for weeks on smackdown, has been sitting there going like, yeah, that's my guy. That's my guy. It's like we all thought. And that's the thing about Truth. We all think he's just messing around. We all think it's just a goof.

[Jacob Fatu]

We all.

[Sam Roberts]

We don't take it seriously. And then, boom. This is what happens when you don't take things seriously. It blows up in your face. We go, oh, Truth is being truth. You know, Jimmy USO is there to take care of it and tell me he's a fool. Everything's fine. Good.

[Meghan Morant]

He doesn't know where he's at. He doesn't know how to get to St. Louis. Are true.

[Sam Roberts]

It's the one city he's actually gotten right in his whole career. Truth interfered in the main event of Backlash, and for my money, cost Randy Orton the WWE Championship. You can have fun with your little conspiracy theory about childhood heroes or whatever nonsense is coming out. Cool. Well, it's not going to be conspiracy theory either. Well, when R. Truth is eating RKOs because he just cost the Viper the WWE Championship, does that sound smart? Does that sound like a good plan?

[Meghan Morant]

I think if you ask Truth, I don't want to speak for him, but I think he would say it was worth it to defend John Cena's honor.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, because he says crazy stuff that doesn't make any sense.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. But sometimes he ends up in high places, like the Judgment Day, so maybe he does know what he's talking about.

[Sam Roberts]

He ends up with the main event of Backlash.

[Meghan Morant]

I don't know. Truth always has a plan. It's convoluted and confusing to all of us, including him, but I think there's a plan.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, he ate an RKO for his plan.

[Meghan Morant]

Good for him.

[Sam Roberts]

Good for him. I hope he enjoyed the taste. But while R. Truth acts as the distraction, eats the rko, that's when Cena gets the low blow. Cena nails Randy Orton with the WWE Championship. And then Chad Patton finally miraculously arises. Yeah, somebody threw water on him. He wakes up, crawls his way into the ring like that girl from the ring getting out of the well. And Cena, which, by the way, it was a great cover by Cena, had both legs hooked, the arm over the shoulders. Cena is in this really interesting position where it's just like, it doesn't matter. I just need to leave with the title. And that's what he did. In St. Louis at Backlash, as fans were like, what? And anybody, anybody, anybody wondering, oh, are fans really going to boo John Cena?

[Meghan Morant]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Put him against Randy Orton in St. Louis and see. See what kind of sounds people make. Yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm. I'm interested to see what's next for Cena. I'm interested to see where his head's at. I'm interested to see how he feels about a cheap victory. I'm interested to see how he feels after that match. You know what I mean? Like, that was a.

[Meghan Morant]

That was a terrific match with an ending that left a bad taste in your mouth.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow. The bad guy won. I like when the good guys win. What can I tell you? You know, that said, you can get your hands on all kinds of winners. Merch right now at WWE Shop, Fanatics is making it all possible. You saw the. The gear, the St. Louis gear.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

That John Cena was rocking. He was rocking Dayton, Ohio gear the night before, saying goodbye to all these cities. You're able to get all that gear if you want to just be a part of this history. As John Cena says goodbye city to city. You can get it all right now at WWE Shop, as well as the various merchandise from the winners. The Jacob Fatu merchandise that's out there, the Tribal wolf collection, autographed United States Championship replica title. I mean, who doesn't want that signed by Jacob Fatu?

[Meghan Morant]

I would wear it around my neck everywhere I go.

[Sam Roberts]

Who would have thought? Head to WWE Shop, get on Fanatics, get that merch from all of your favorite superstars, but specifically the winners tonight at Backlash, and there was one specific winner that I said, I predict he will win. I very much want. Well, there were a couple. I very much want him to win, but this is the person, and I don't know if we could get him, but this is the person who I would like to have on the Backlash recap podcast. And, Megan, I got good news.

[Meghan Morant]

What's that? Let's go.

[Sam Roberts]

Fresh off of a successful defense of the United States Championship and a surprising ending, ladies and gentlemen. He promised all gas, no breaks with it, yada. I mean, Jacob, that too. What is going on, man? Welcome to the Raw recap, man.

[Jacob Fatu]

Come on with it. Come on with it.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, I do. I do and I am. I tell you what makes me happy, man, is like, as somebody who has followed your career, as long as I followed your career and throughout all this bloodline stuff that was going on and you being all over the place, wrestling Everywhere except for wwe. And building, and building and building. To watch you walk into St. Louis and having the entire arena chanting, fatu, Fatu. After. After all the hours, days, weeks, months, years that you put in and realizing that not only have you made it to wwe, but you have done the thing that is so difficult, which is connect with the audience like that in a WWE ring. When you're experiencing that moment, what is that like for you?

[Jacob Fatu]

Mind blowing. It's mind blowing. But, you know, everything that I don't work for in the dark, you know, I ain't no social media person, so, I mean, I'm always in the. In the background. You know, this goes back to where Jimmy J. Roman says, you know, big dog, man, grind in the dark. You know, man, I'm a little old school, but, man, overall, to hear that, man, it's mind blowing. And that's my last name. That's our last name. That's our.

[Sam Roberts]

It's.

[Jacob Fatu]

I don't know why he's in the Fatu. So, you know, to. To hear that, man, it's emotional, but, man, God damn, does it feel good, though?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Jacob Fatu]

Y' all know what I mean.

[Sam Roberts]

I do, I do. I mean, it's got to. But at the same time, you can't crack a smile when you're out there. You can't let that hit you when you. Because, because, listen, if you're half smiling because you're appreciating the adulation, but you're licking the United States Championship, it's not going to have the same effect. For the ferociousness, the ferocity that you have, has to, has to maintain. How do you stay in that moment without going outside to realize what's really going on?

[Jacob Fatu]

Man, I say this all the time, you know, thank God for the talent that I have. I won't be here if it weren't for God and, you know, my family and my wife, but, man, man, it's go time. Like, I don't just wrestle just to wrestle, you know, I don't. There's a lot of us in the family. There's so many of us in the family. Not knocking none of my other family members, but when you see Jacob Fatu, you're not just gonna be like, oh, he's just one of the family members. When you see Jacob Fatu, oh, no. Oh, no. He just got on because of Jimmy and Jay and Roman and Solo. No. Hell no, man. You're gonna feel my pain, man. You're gonna feel everything that I've been through. All right? You're gonna feel the struggle. You're gonna feel everything about this, you know? And it ain't just, oh, he cut good promos. Oh, he do this, man. Oh, hell no, man. Shut all that up, all right? Cause y' all gonna feel this. And. And. And. And I'm sorry for this, because it's so. It ain't just the work, man. This is. This is how my family been sacrificing for years for this. I know when I came up, man, I. Man, I had to push, carry my own weight, you know? It's different up here, man. I. I got thrown right, man. I got thrown right in the deep end, you know, man, And I'm so thankful for it. I'm so thankful I ain't been here, man. I've been. And I'm so humble. I don't talk about myself, but thank you because, man, I've been waiting to get this off my chest about how they gonna feel Jacob Fatu. All right? And I appreciate the love. I appreciate all that. None of that stuff goes on, goes unnoticed. But, man, I. I want to be noted. I want to be known for, not just to be the cousin, man, when you bring up my name, you're going, okay, yeah, we know who USO is. You know, we know his story. And you know what? That ain't even just my story, man. There's a lot of young cats out there that hope that. That. That, you know, I could play a big part in their lives. Like, it doesn't matter. It don't matter how you start, man. It's how you finish, yada. That.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, yes, absolutely. And, Megan, you remember the first time.

[Meghan Morant]

Exactly. I was just gonna bring this up. Bring it up, because when Solo was forming his version of the bloodline, there were r there on the Internet that Jacob Fatu is coming. Now, Sam here, he's followed your career for quite some time, but I was not as familiar with Jacob Fatu. So every time a Tongan or a new Samoan appeared on the TV screen, I would either look directly at Sam and say, is that Jacob Fatu? Or if we were not together, I would text him and say, is that Jacob Fatu? And he continuously told me, when you see Jacob Fatu, you will know. And the first time I saw you on my screen, I texted Sam, all caps Fatu. But he was absolutely right, and I did know exactly who you are. No one had to say, that's Jacob Fatu. And I think the entire audience felt the exact same way, no matter how familiar they were with your career. What did that feel like for you to connect, man?

[Jacob Fatu]

Just, you know, this is something that I'm, you know, teaching my children as well, you know? I mean, just be yourself. I've always just been myself. And this is for anybody who's watching this, you know, man, you ain't got to be. Switch it up to try to fit in, you know, this is why I always say that word, man. Y' all better get in where you fit in, all right? Because just be yourself. You don't want to be nobody else, you know, But I feel like people gravitate me because just I'm myself, you know, I don't walk around here with my glasses on or, you know, hey, hey, what's going on? Being a man, none of that, you know, because, man, I feel like I ain't even started yet. I mean, very grateful. Don't. Don't get it twisted. Don't get it wrong. But, man, for me to connect with them, just with everybody, period. And, you know, man, I'm not even just talking about the crowd. I'm talking about just everybody here when we come to work, you know, and shout out to the people who does the backstage. Shout out to the people who sets up the ring. Shout out to the Caden, you know, it's. Man, shout out to all the writers. Shout out to all the whole team. You know, it's all a team thing over here. So when you talk about connect, man, it's really just be me being myself. Not only even out there, but also in the back as well, you know? So therefore, I'm not sure if I answer your question, but be yourself. You know what I mean?

[Meghan Morant]

So when you walk out with the United States title around your neck and we see your entrance, which is just phenomenal, by the way. I was going to ask where you came up with that, but is that just you?

[Jacob Fatu]

Nah. I seen one of my uncles and them do it. I think it was. Not sure if it was three minute warning, but I seen one of my uncles do it. I think it was Rosa. Okay. Rosie is Roman Reigns older brother. And matter of fact, I think you had my Uncle Rosie's action figure somewhere in the back.

[Sam Roberts]

100.

[Jacob Fatu]

Okay. Okay. Yeah, Okay. I told you I'd really be watching your show, man, back there.

[Sam Roberts]

I appreciate that.

[Jacob Fatu]

So, man, I definitely got it from one of my family members. There's an iconic picture with Umaga when he won the intercontinental belt with his mouth when he held it. But I can't do that, man. That damn belt too heavy. So, you know, but I Took it from them back in the day. And I believe. You know what? I'm sorry. I see my cousin Jay USO do it as well. And, you know, once again, just my trainer gangrel said this. What. What's new has been bought, you know, or what's new has been forgotten, you know, so, man, I'm just doing everything you see me doing. I'm just taking a little bit something from my family and just added it, you know, just giving my own self that own little flavor. But definitely seen Jay USO do it. Yeah, Jimmy and Jay, this one, they, I mean, have both of those Smackdown and Raw belts, but just taking a little, you know, I mean, how can I not follow the blueprint if it's working for them here? You know, me and then Jacob, take your little thing right here and switch it up a little bit. But definitely got it from my family members. Everything y' all see me do besides, like, you know, the other moves that I could do that my family members can't do, you know, I'm taking it really all from them.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, that's what I mean. To me, I felt like a big part of who you are, and that's why I think it all clicks so clearly, especially for people who've been watching wrestling for a very long time, is that it feels like Offense Seeker in there. Samu and Fatu are in there. Like, you've got that sort of historical, sort of Samoan beast thing, but it's contemporary. It doesn't feel like a cartoon character. It feels new. And then all of a sudden, you do a jumping moonsault, and everybody goes, all right, all right, I'm out. Have you had any. Any close calls at all with that jumping moonsault? Because everything that you do, it feels like it is so well controlled, but it also feels like. I mean, it's utter chaos.

[Jacob Fatu]

Good. Okay, so let. Let me. Let me give you guys a little story where I came up. Knox Pro Academy. My uncle Rikishi, my father, the Tonga kid, the vampire warrior Gangrel, I mean, and my uncle Reno Onawai, the county California Black Pearl. I was trained at Knox Pro, the same school where Rusev went at. And Trick Williams also was there for a little bit. But, man, we came from over here. And I really. True. And I'm not saying this because this is my family. I really honestly believe if I was to start training and I did not go there, you know, then I don't feel like Jacob Fatu would have been here. But I seen these guys turn to nobody into somebody, and Man, I'm one of those nobodies who they turned around in, you know, man, they had to humble me. They really had to humble me. They had to break me down and build me up because I thought I knew. I didn't know nothing about this business, but it was Gangrel, you know. Okay, okay, I understand. Everybody's training that need crash pack. There's nothing against it. I use crash pads too, when I first started, but when I hit the moonsault, Gangrel, he had me doing it with no crash pad. And I'm like, man, hold on, man. Like, you know, but shout out to Gangrel, man, shout out to Knox Pro. They really. They really had me impact everything, you know, And. And honestly, I still don't even know I'm gonna keep it 100. I'm not gonna act like, oh, I do it anywhere. Nah, until this day, I've been doing it so much to where I just look back and I. I don't know, I just. I just, I. I can measure it, you know, But I have. I have fell on a couple people before, you know, by accident, but, you know, by the grace of God, you know, everything's been going smooth, but it's just me more believing in my work, believing in my craft, believing in, man, if I could picture it, we can do it, you know, so. But. But not only that, WWE had certain wrestling schools, you know, that they. What was the schools that they, you know, was the thing called. When they started all these, the couple schools ID the wwid. My uncle in them school. Knox Pro was one of them.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Jacob Fatu]

Located in SoCal. So, man, shout out to Knox Pro.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, yeah, I mean, listen, I've got a. I could keep you here for hours and hours talking about, well.

[Jacob Fatu]

I told you, I watch your show, man. Hey, man, it's unlimited time over here.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, but you know what else I'm also thinking? I gotta get you in the basement. I can't. I can't. I can't blow it all on the zoom. I gotta. I gotta get you in the basement at some point. But also, I want to talk about tonight because we also, you know, at some point we have to have a deeper conversation about the fact that you came in as a non entity to WWE fans that just watch WWE as a part of the biggest storyline on television and have somehow not been gobbled up by that spotlight, which I don't think people appreciate that that was done. But. But with all that said, okay.

[Jacob Fatu]

Yeah. So, okay, bro, you definitely got to bring me in the basement now.

[Sam Roberts]

Man, you got to. I mean, yeah. Yes. That's. Yes, yes. Yes. And we won't make promises that we don't keep.

[Jacob Fatu]

But love. Love.

[Sam Roberts]

So tonight, everybody's been watching you and Solo and the drama that's been unfolding and about Solo asking about the plan and. And you saying, don't worry, you've got the plan. And you. And I thought it was special, you walking into St. Louis alone and getting that reaction. Alone and fighting this match alone. Solo comes like he's done a million times and saves the match for a member of the family. And out comes Jeff Cobb. Jeff Cobb is somebody that. The same way. Megan, you were just saying there were all these rumors about Jacob Fatu coming to wwe. Jeff Cobb shows up, and all of a sudden, as a fan, I start picking up on this tension and go, like, the. Like the future of where this could go just got turned on its head for this first defense on a premium live event that it starts with you on your own, but it ends with Solo and this new entity again to the WWE Universe that maybe you clearly weren't counting on. Where does that. Where does that leave you in the immediate.

[Jacob Fatu]

Man, Sam, I know we've been doing this interview and it's been great, but, man, I'm gonna keep it 100. I don't even want to speak on that. I don't want to speak on none of that. I don't want to speak on. I don't want to speak on the last couple seconds because honestly, I could tell you I don't know. And this ain't. I appreciate you having me, but I don't want to speak on them. I can't tell you. And I can't tell. I can't tell you if I don't know anything and if I don't know, I don't know why I can't speak on it. And that's just. That's just coming from me, man. Out of respect, though.

[Sam Roberts]

But I appreciate it. And you strike. But you do strike me as the type that maybe doesn't love when something's involving. When something is involving you. You strike me as the type that might not appreciate you not knowing what's happening as it concerns.

[Jacob Fatu]

I mean, man, the. The whole world seemed to look on my face. I mean, the whole world. I'm kind of. I ain't frustrated about it, but I just can't speak on. I. I can't tell you nothing about it. I mean, because it's kind of just a little different. I mean, so obviously I feel Like, I still feel like they better get in where they fit in at the end of the day, you know, I can't call it. I mean, everybody just gonna have to just stay tuned and see what's poppin. Cause you know, for something like that just to pop up out of nowhere, kind of nowhere. To me, to Jacob, who's been. Who's been nothing but loyal. I mean, slow upsetting though, but overall, I. I can't. I don't want to speak about it though. And I'm not knowing, you know, like I said, they better get in where they fit in at the end of the day. I mean, so that's it, man. That makes.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, well, we appreciate it, Jacob. You taking time out on a busy night, a night that you leave St. Louis still the United States champion. Is there anything right now? Right? You've had your WrestleMania moment. You won that championship at WrestleMania. That sort of. Here it is, it's time for the rice. And I've been talking about it everywhere. That to me, everything post WrestleMania has felt like, okay, it's time. We've seen it, we've heard it. It's time to. It's time to move with the Jacob Fatu thing that everybody sees as a possibility. You walk out of St. Louis Champion. Is there any sort of vision that you have for what's next and where this goes as far as you and your business is concerned?

[Jacob Fatu]

Man, like I said earlier, I'm just playing my position. You know, I never try to step out. I never try to do too much, man. I've been just playing my position my whole life. But overall, let's not forget who I was in the ring with, you know, man, these men had made a name for themselves. These men had been in WWE way longer than me. Crushing stuff, man. Just, I mean, so I feel like I stepped up my game. I feel like being in the ring with those men today, you know, with la, with Drew, with Priest, you know, really helped elevate me, really helped me, you know, build my confidence, you know what I'm saying? So I'm not going to sit over here and act like, okay, I just dog walk them, I mean, and double back, you know, I mean, I got to give credit when credit's due, you know. And at the end of the day, man, that's probably one of the best bangers that I had so far, you know. So, man, everybody here, you know it. I never look at nobody like, oh, he's a mid Carter. Oh, he's the Manny veteran. Nah, obviously we all signed Here at the same company, you know, I mean, so whoever want it, come on, come on and come get it. But what's for next? For me, man, I've just been playing my position. I didn't come here on my debut and say, oh, I'm coming for this, you know, it just happened organically and, you know, my whole life has just been happening organically, you know, just going with the flow, but also just playing my position, never trying to overstep, never trying to override anything. So, man, if you're gonna. If I'm gonna tell you straight up, man, I'm excited for what we got going on. And I can't wait. And I can't wait, you know, and it's more now, especially after tonight, you know, with that pop up, that surprise pop up. And, man, who knows where the hell we going, you know?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, well, thank you, man. I appreciate it. Like I said, the next time it'll be in person for sure. And yeah, man, it's. It's a. It is awesome watching you. So thank you.

[Jacob Fatu]

Action figure back there, man.

[Sam Roberts]

You know it. You know it. Absolutely.

[Meghan Morant]

Jacob, thank you so much.

[Jacob Fatu]

I love your jacket too.

[Sam Roberts]

Have a good one. All right. Thank you, man.

[Jacob Fatu]

All right.

[Sam Roberts]

You hear that?

[Jacob Fatu]

That's not just a Toyota truck. That's the sound of no crowds. No crowds, no alerts, no distractions, and no telling what you'll find next, you.

[Sam Roberts]

Know, like a detour. So why would you ever take a.

[Jacob Fatu]

Tour when you could take a detour?

[Sam Roberts]

Toyota trucks. I mean, I mean, the best. Fatu.

[Meghan Morant]

So good.

[Sam Roberts]

Listen, that was a big. That was a big moment. First of all, I've got to say, and I would say this, I would ask Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest to their face in a fatal four way scenario where it is not elimination. Like it was spectacular. What we just saw a minute ago, that still of. Of of Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest in the audience, right? It is a fatal four way championship match. This is not elimination rules. You've got. You can't just be working on getting the COVID or hurting somebody. You also have to stop anybody else from getting covers. I get that. You know, you're mad@ Drew McIntyre, you want to hit him with the south of heaven. And I loved seeing it as a fan, I loved it.

[Meghan Morant]

Just strategically, maybe not the smartest move.

[Sam Roberts]

Get to ringside, stop people. Because now, right, because at the beginning of the match, what's Wade Barrett pointing out? That everybody in this match has a better chance of winning the United States Championship because they don't have to pin the Samoan werewolf. They could pin anybody else. But then we go back to ringside and I'm going, wow. You know, Damian priest and Drew McIntyre took themselves out of the match in an incredibly spectacular way. And now La Knight is stuck in a position where, oh, yeah, you do have to pin the Samoan werewolf if you want to get it, but if you want to get in where you fit in. Gosh, Jacob. But. But I'm very.

[Meghan Morant]

You're so excited.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow. Now, I want to talk of, like, Jacob, you know, but who doesn't? He's so cool when. But for me, it's like when I try to do the penta walk. What does my kid say?

[Meghan Morant]

He said that, dad, that's so cringe.

[Sam Roberts]

When you do it specifically. I think it's the same when I try.

[Meghan Morant]

Well, because then he did the penta walk, and I was like, are you doing the penta walk? He said, it's only cringe when my dad does it.

[Sam Roberts]

And that's not. And you didn't argue.

[Meghan Morant]

No, I didn't.

[Sam Roberts]

I think it's probably the same when I talk, like, Jacob fat, too. So Jacob's on the table, like, we were just talking to him about. And I mean. Yeah. And Solo comes out and saves him. But the surprise was somebody who, again, has been in the rumor mills. This guy, Jeff Cobb, who I know from. From wrestling in, like, pro wrestling Gorilla in New Japan. Like, he's been all over the place and became a free agent, and he just shows up. I don't know what. I mean, I don't know if Solo Sikoa found himself a soldier now.

[Meghan Morant]

Is there a background, Is there a relationship that goes back?

[Jacob Fatu]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

No.

[Meghan Morant]

What do I need to know about Cobb?

[Sam Roberts]

You need to know. He's a beast.

[Meghan Morant]

Okay?

[Sam Roberts]

He's a beast.

[Meghan Morant]

If I see him and I go, sam, he's.

[Sam Roberts]

He's. He's.

[Meghan Morant]

Solo has all of these guys and.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, he must just be a very, very friendly guy, but he is an absolute beast. And not only is he this, like, this just wrecking ball of a human being, but he's also, like, one of the great amateur wrestlers as well. Like, he can. He can ruin your life in so many different ways and has made an entire career out of doing it globally. But what I saw, right, If I went to you, right? And I was like, no, Megan, this is my podcast, my plan. You just follow me. Don't you worry about it. You get in where you fit in, because I'm gonna do it on my own. And you were like, okay, Sam, no problem, no problem. And then you're like, hey, we just helped with your podcast. By the way, here's my other co host. I'd be like, what? You see what I'm saying? And that's what I felt from Jacob. He's like, wait a second.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. And you brought it up in our interview with Jacob that, you know, this was Jacob entering alone, which felt like a statement. Right. He's been with Solo Sikoa. And we saw that moment leading up to backlash when they were talking in the ring and Solo was hyping Jacob up. Right. And then all of a sudden, Solo said, well, I'm the reason that he's the United States Champion. And we saw Jacob's demeanor completely change.

[Sam Roberts]

He's like, nah, fam.

[Meghan Morant]

And this was Jacob's first opportunity to truly enter by himself as a champion. And all of a sudden, Solo's there and I help.

[Sam Roberts]

I think it was more than that. I think it was the appearance of Solo having somebody else by his side. It's almost one of those things of being like, I'm here to help you, dude. But by the way, you're not in charge.

[Meghan Morant]

I call the play.

[Sam Roberts]

I call the plays. And there's somebody who agrees with me now.

[Meghan Morant]

So if just Solo shows up, you don't think it's nearly as big?

[Sam Roberts]

I don't think it's as big a deal. I think he's like, yo, what are you doing? Because we're fan. We're family here.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

You know what I mean? I can talk to you in a different way. What are you doing, bro? I told you, don't show up. Yeah, but it's like, oh, no, I'm here with him. It's like, whoa, what is this? And by the way, I don't know if there's like some weird history between them that I don't know about. Obviously, I know what I see on the Internet and watch on television. Yeah, Right. I don't know what going on. Going on. So who knows if there's more to the story, because it felt like. It felt like something for sure. You know what I'm saying?

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

But it shouldn't take away from the fact that we have a reigning United States Champion in Jacob Fatu. And I think the fact that he was on the post show press conference, the fact that he was on the backlash recap podcast, goes more into what I've been saying about this being that time that WWE is going to put the focus on this Guy. And I, I was talking to some people who are like, who listen to not Sam wrestling. And one of them was in the audience and he said, I brought my brother to this wrestling show. He hasn't watched wrestling in seven years. And the minute Jacob Fatu walked out, he goes, that guy's for real, dude. Instant. And it was what you were saying, right, that, that, that you knew as soon as you saw that guy. Oh, that's different.

[Meghan Morant]

Well, and it's not just. It continues, right? You see him, it's the look, it's the demeanor, it's the way he makes you feel, and then the athleticism. You go, oh, that's my guy.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Speaking of athleticism, we got a knockdown. Drag out a humdinger. Humdinger from Becky lynch and get them wangs out. Lyra Valkyria.

[Meghan Morant]

Some people were tweeting it.

[Sam Roberts]

They were tweeting it. I saw it. I'm going to tell you this. I saw it on my Instagram stories, okay? I had them wags out. Get them out, get them out like Napoleon Dynamite. Get them wangs. Wings out. And Lyra got them wings out. And I wonder if she's been listening to the recap pod and she was like, I need some new wangs.

[Meghan Morant]

Is those popping? They were popping.

[Sam Roberts]

They were great. They were fantastic.

[Meghan Morant]

We're flying.

[Sam Roberts]

Yup, yup. And I, I thought that it was. It was the exact match that I wanted to see from Lyra Valkyria.

[Meghan Morant]

She's so great in the ring. I mean, we've seen these two tangle, if you will, before in nxt. It felt very weird saying tangle.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, yeah, it was. It was super weird, actually.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. All right, now I'm uncomfortable. We've seen these two go at it in NXT before. Lyra is outstanding in the ring.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, I could think of so many different matches when she defeated Iyo sky to advance in the Intercontinental Championship tournament. I mean, she's outstanding. But to see her in there with her hero, Becky lynch, after one second. Oh.

[Sam Roberts]

John Cena, just interrupt. Okay, so we're doing the, you know, we're doing the podcast the same time the post show is on. And. And I just saw John Cena whisper in Triple H's ear. So I thought since we were talking about, yeah, you know, what's next for John Cena, maybe we. And I know by now a lot of you have seen it, but this is breaking news. I want to hear what he's got to say.

[John Cena]

I need to be better with you guys, huh? I need to begin to walk the talk. And if I am the last real champion and if I am the greatest of all time, huh? In this little time I have left, I shouldn't patronize the people who help the reach of what we do. I should be more accepting and empathetic.

[Sam Roberts]

In the past, somebody went to therapy.

[John Cena]

Chosen to field any questions because I couldn't get out of my own way. So I'm going to try to take a step in the right direction.

[Meghan Morant]

What is this?

[John Cena]

I want to thank you all for being here. We have a pretty intimate group, so I want to make sure everyone gets the time that they have earned. I would now like to open the floor and field all questions, all.

[Sam Roberts]

So please, I don't believe at the 1.

[Meghan Morant]

Mona, congratulations on retaining your belt.

[Sam Roberts]

It's a championship.

[Meghan Morant]

Tell us a little bit about your feelings about your match and if you guys shared any words just off screen behind the scenes after your match.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay? Getting juicy. You've got to be kidding me. It's true.

[Jacob Fatu]

Congratulations, man.

[Sam Roberts]

You got to be kidding me. This is our truth. Just interrupted John Cena at the post show.

[Jacob Fatu]

You know what I'm talking about?

[Sam Roberts]

You know what I'm saying?

[Jacob Fatu]

I'm so proud of you.

[John Cena]

Even if people say you suck and can't wrestle.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, he didn't like that. Oh, okay. He's standing up. Ron's over the line.

[John Cena]

You say one more thing and I promise there'll be repercussions.

[Sam Roberts]

No, see, I told you. I told you he deserves this. Whoa, he's out. Attitude adjustment. Oh, he's our true. Threw a table at the press conference. What a piece of garbage. What a bad guy. I told you he's a bad guy. This guy sucks. John Cena just put R Truth. R Truth just won the championship for John Cena.

[Meghan Morant]

Aiden rko.

[Sam Roberts]

Aiden rko for John Cena. That's your guy. That's what you like tonight.

[Meghan Morant]

I don't like John Cena. I like our truth.

[Sam Roberts]

You seem pretty pro the whole relationship and that's what it got you, the toxic. You want to talk about toxic relationships? John Cena's out here talking about toxic relationship this, audience toxic relationship that. Our truth is over. Go here going like it's none of my business. I'm not even booked on the show. But I went all the way to St. Louis so I can ruin Randy Orton's night for you. And then I came out here to tell you that I like you. Even though they say he said they say you suck and you can't wrestle.

[Meghan Morant]

He didn't say it.

[Sam Roberts]

And now you got so in your feelings that at a media event. What is going on with the WWE and Media now with. First, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are getting involved in matches, and there are people going through tables at press conferences.

[Meghan Morant]

None of this was the media's fault. This was all John Cena's fault. John Cena.

[Sam Roberts]

You wouldn't be saying that if you were here. He put you right through this table, and I only have the one.

[Meghan Morant]

I wouldn't say it if he was here.

[Sam Roberts]

No, you wouldn't.

[Meghan Morant]

No, I probably wouldn't. But he said he would answer all questions the media's kindly asked.

[Sam Roberts]

Truth ruined it.

[Meghan Morant]

This is not Truth's fault.

[Sam Roberts]

It is, of course, the truth. He interrupted again. He's got to stop interrupting. Cena's fault for being interrupted.

[Meghan Morant]

For being a jerk.

[Sam Roberts]

Every knows he's a jerk. That's like saying it's a bee's fault for stinging you.

[Meghan Morant]

But he was.

[Sam Roberts]

They got a stinger. What else are they gonna do? Frog and the scorpion, baby. You think it's the scorpion's fault for stinging the frog and they both drowned? No, it's the stupid, idiot frog's fault. The scorpions. No, no, you have none. It's done. The scorpion's going, what did you think I was gonna do?

[Meghan Morant]

I'm a compassionate person and I like our Truth.

[Sam Roberts]

You're gonna get runned over in this life. Happy Mother's Day, by the way. I meant to tell you that I forgot this is not the best time to bring it up, but it's your first Mother's Day, so. Happy Mother's Day.

[Meghan Morant]

Wow. Thank you.

[Sam Roberts]

But that's totally unrelated. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally unrelated. I was just thinking about it, like, oh, that's really nice that she joined us on her first Mother's Day, but, I mean, I don't know what. R. Truth. That was crazy. R. Truth went through a table.

[Meghan Morant]

Still his childhood hero.

[Sam Roberts]

He never was. Doesn't make any sense mathematically. Also, R. Truth wasn't even booked on the show and got an RKO and an attitude adjustment through a press conference.

[Meghan Morant]

I don't know why you're blaming Truth.

[Sam Roberts]

He needs to mind his own business.

[Meghan Morant]

Cena needs to go to more therapy.

[Sam Roberts]

Scene is fragile. Scene is in a highly emotionally responsive state.

[Meghan Morant]

Clearly.

[Sam Roberts]

My word. Well, speaking of highly emotional, Lyra Valkyria was able to beat Becky Lynch. Fantastic match.

[Meghan Morant]

It really was.

[Sam Roberts]

Lyra got Lyra called her Spot. Knew exactly where she was. Actually, I thought, really nice to see her Using some of that power that she's got.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

I think people underestimate how powerful Lyra Valkyrie is. She's a strong lady.

[Meghan Morant]

And then we saw from the second rope, which you pointed out to both me and your son, the moonsault. The moonsault from the second rope.

[Sam Roberts]

I love a moonsault from the second rope because it's so much more difficult because you have to get so much.

[Meghan Morant]

Air, which you don't think because you go, oh, they're going from the top rope.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Meghan Morant]

Everybody's excited about the top rope, but the second rope, you gotta jump higher.

[Sam Roberts]

You gotta get high enough, and you gotta rotate quicker.

[Meghan Morant]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

It's a. It's a lot more difficult to do from the second rope, but she pulled it off. She gets the victory, retains the intercontinental championship, prove Becky lynch wrong, who was not over the top polite on Raw recap on Monday. And, of course, Becky gets highly emotional and starts wrenching back on the arm of Lyra Valkyria after maybe she just broke her nose.

[Meghan Morant]

Now, I kind of thought that if Lyra was able to beat Becky, that it may be this passing of the torch moment. Right. Because these two women both have similar backgrounds. And after we talked with Becky at.

[Sam Roberts]

WrestleMania, you're still stuck on that. You got to understand this. Becky lynch, the bad guy.

[Meghan Morant]

Well, that is why I realized it's not a passing of the torch what we saw happen after the match.

[Sam Roberts]

She's not interested in passing the torch, and she told us so much.

[Meghan Morant]

No, I mean, Becky still firmly believes her best days are ahead of her.

[Sam Roberts]

And maybe she's right, by the way.

[Meghan Morant]

Correct. But she's taking it out on Lyra.

[Sam Roberts]

She's. Yeah, she was very unhappy that Lyra won the match. She tried to break her arm after breaking her nose. Obviously, things are not. I mean, look, Becky lynch is just making enemies everywhere. She's calling Bailey garbage, tries to break, lose gracefully.

[Meghan Morant]

I get it, though. It's not easy to lose.

[Sam Roberts]

You're a professional. Not you, her. You're not a professional. She's supposed to be a professional.

[Meghan Morant]

She hasn't been in this spot in a long time. Right. She's. No.

[Sam Roberts]

What are you talking about?

[Meghan Morant]

She's used to being on top.

[Sam Roberts]

What, so she goes and does Happy Gilmore forgets how to lose a match? Is that what. Where Becky lynch is at right now?

[Meghan Morant]

She. I mean, when you come back and the fans are crying because they're so excited to see you return.

[Sam Roberts]

Right?

[Meghan Morant]

And then Lyra screws up, all of a sudden, you're not a champion in WWE anymore. And you're trying to get the championship back. And the woman who lost you a title to begin with, it wasn't your. Beats you.

[Sam Roberts]

She wasn't even in the match.

[Meghan Morant]

It wasn't her match, the tag title.

[Sam Roberts]

And Becky wasn't in that tag match. Bailey was. It wasn't Becky's match. It wasn't her title to begin with.

[Meghan Morant]

He had to come back to remind everybody that she's better than Bailey.

[Sam Roberts]

I forgot about that part. Thank you. No, you're right. I forgot about that part. There was that one little. I knew there was one little piece that I was missing. Yeah, that was the bridge.

[Meghan Morant]

That's correct.

[Sam Roberts]

I gotcha. Okay, okay, okay. Well, look, there were a lot of moments. I wonder too. You know, Tops now does this tremendous job. I got a Pope card from Tops now. I ordered one.

[Meghan Morant]

I need one. He's a White Sox.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, exactly. Right. I saw him at the World Series.

[Meghan Morant]

So cool.

[Sam Roberts]

But so Tops now, of course, does amazing cards after all the ples. And they're available for only a few days. And. And you know, if you get them, you get them. If you don't, you don't. They always do special like super fractures. They do limited edition refractors that are numbered. They do one of one autographs. You know, they. We. We were talking at after Raw after Wrestlemania, there was a, I believe, a triple signed card of Heyman, Rollins, and Breaker from the night that they got together. So they're doing it again for backlash. Tops immortalizes some of tonight's moments via these unique Tops now card. Details are coming soon, and we hope to share images of these cards on the Raw recap podcast. That'll come right after Monday's Monday night Raw.

[Meghan Morant]

I can't wait.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Stay locked in at tops on social tops.com for the official drop and everything. I'll be looking. I'm hoping we get a card of our truth going through the table at the press conference. Ooh, I would love to see that. Could be. We got to have a Jacob in there. You wonder if it'll be the debut card of Solo's new soldier.

[Meghan Morant]

You know what if it's a Penta entrance?

[Sam Roberts]

Could be a Penta entrance card, but more likely a Dominic. Yeah, he was the winner after all. And I know that there were a lot of moments in the next match that we have to discuss, but I think should we bring on another guest?

[Meghan Morant]

Let's do it.

[Sam Roberts]

Megan. We have so much to talk about with Pat McAfee and with Gunther and the whole situation, but we thought, who better to talk about from the world of pro wrestling as well as pro wrestling broadcasting than our. Our best friend? I would say our best friend of the show. Best friend of the show. Biggie is back on the recap. E. How are you, man on the scene in St. Louis, looking fresh.

[Biggie]

I'm good. Well, you're too sweet. You're too kind. I. I am. Well, look, I. I'm a bit shocked by what I saw. Not shocked that that Gunther won, but shock seeing Pat go toe to toe. I don't know how you guys feel about this, but I was. I was taken aback.

[Meghan Morant]

Well, you said you wanted Pat to get stretchered out, so I was gonna ask you, are you disappointed? He was walking.

[Sam Roberts]

You said that. You did say. I did not. You said that.

[Biggie]

I didn't say that.

[Sam Roberts]

You said that.

[Biggie]

I might have expected it. It's not what I thought. Look, Pat is obviously beloved here. He is a tremendous athlete. I'm just coming from the perspective of, look, anyone who does this for a living talking Pat I'm sure is in the gym, but even me, I'm a former world champion. I'm still in great shape. I'm in the gym, but it's been three years since I've been in the ring to expect that I could just get off the couch and wrestle Gunther and wrestle him. Well, I would expect that I would also be stretchered out. So this is not an anti fat thing. It is. I just have so much respect for Gunther and for his game. I think my perspective is. I think Gunther kind of took Pat lightly. I think he toyed with him a little bit. I think he thought that he could kind of go through the motions, and I think he paid for it a bit.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I think he also didn't realize he'd have to deal with the second half of the Raw broadcast team trying to cheat to make sure that Pat won. Weasel Michael Cole holding people's legs down and whatnot. As if I'm just a broadcaster. Well, now you're involved in the match. You probably should have gotten powerbombed.

[Biggie]

Look, I have a lot of respect for Cole, obviously my broadcasting partner on these ple countdowns. I don't know if I'd refer to him as a weasel, but he did take some tactics. I thought he was there. He's going to defend himself. I thought he was going to. To root on Pat, cheer for his friend. I can't say I expected him to hold Gunther's leg for an attempted three count.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no. Especially after everything but you're right. You're right that Pat showed up and he showed that it's not all talk. There was so much talk going into this, and a lot of people were talking about how great the promos were that Pat was cutting going into this. But it's one thing to talk with that kind of that verbose nature of building this thing up, and it's another thing for it to play out in action. And I think that what you saw was it playing out in action, this idea that Pat, as we discussed on the Raw recap right after WrestleMania, the night that we were talking about it, the night that Pat got choked out, and we talked about how prideful Pat McAfee is, I think we saw that in its most positive kind of form. And I think something very interesting, E, I think, to your point, almost, we saw a similar finish to WrestleMania. At WrestleMania, Jay Uso put that sleeper on Gunther, and Gunther tapped immediately because he realized there was no escape. Pat had to be put to sleep whether he thought there was an escape or not. And that's the difference between fighting tactically and fighting with emotion. Pat was fueled by emotion in a positive way, but he also was never going to tap. He had to be put all the way to sleep by Gunther.

[Biggie]

Absolutely. And look, I'll give Pat all the credit in the world for showing so much heart. Not only did he show up, not only, like, was he spirited. This man threw everything he had at Gunther, a man who I, like I said, I have the highest of respect for him. He's not done being a world champion. I think he'll have another title reign, I'm sure, soon. I wouldn't be shocked if it was by the end of this year. But, man, I think Pat showed his heart, and that's why he has such a rabid fan base. That's why so many people connect with him. I think you saw a version of him that people are used to seeing in their homes. But instead of getting it done on the mic, he did it in the ring. He gave his all, and unfortunately, it wasn't enough. But just the fact, honestly, that he's able to walk out on his own, I think he can keep his head held high. He gave a great performance. It wasn't enough against Gunther, but that's 99.9% of the people in this world. It won't be enough. So, yeah, like, hats off to him for showing his heart.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, well, look, Biggie, we don't want to keep you anymore. You are analyzing what happens at Backlash everywhere. Conceivable. Be it the countdown, be it here on the recap, be it on the post show. And I truly hope, by the way, that people see you both here on the recap podcast as well as on the post show, because that will be direct evidence that indeed, contrary to popular believe, myself and Peter Rosenberg are two separate human beings.

[Biggie]

Yes, you. You are not Rosenberg. Both bald, glorious, glorious heads. But you are two different people. That is indeed.

[Meghan Morant]

I was wondering where you were going.

[Sam Roberts]

Confirmed. There was. There he is. What is this? WrestleMania 9? Is this WrestleMania 9? Is this doink? Are we.

[Biggie]

He's asking if this is WrestleMania 9. Is this doink?

[Meghan Morant]

I love WrestleMania.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, thank you, E. Everybody. I hope you. If you haven't already seen the Poacher, go see the post show. We appreciate you making some time for us, though, my friend.

[Meghan Morant]

Thank you.

[Biggie]

Of course. I appreciate you, too. Thank you, guys.

[Sam Roberts]

Always good to hear from Biggie when he can squeeze us in. I mean, he's got so much going on out there in St. Louis right now. But I was. I wasn't surprised that Pat put so much of an effort. I mean, that's kind of what makes Pat Pat.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

And I do think. I don't think Gunther took Pat lightly. I think Gunther kind of wanted to make it sporty. You know what I mean? He wanted to not. He didn't want to play the game on easy mode.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. I think he wanted to see what Pat brought to the table as well.

[Sam Roberts]

And that's a risky scenario this tough guy have, right? And that's a risky scenario because Pat very intelligently, by the way, in those. In those Jordan 11 cool grays, immediately when he realized there was an opening form, started using those feet. And those feet. You can say whatever you want. You don't get to go to the super bowl and kick footballs without having lethal feet.

[Meghan Morant]

All pro punter.

[Sam Roberts]

All right? So this guy knows what he's doing. And he did. He kicked Gunther in the face a couple times. I think he shot Gunther. I think some of those chops that he threw Gunther's way, maybe Gunther wasn't expecting them to be so. So heavy.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. I mean, I learned from watching Stephanie's places that Pat McAfee was supposed to be a professional soccer player, so.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, it's true. It's true. Those kicks, I mean, I don't know. First of all, I have so many problems with what Michael Cole did first. Michael Cole saying, for the first time in my career, I'm going to be unbiased as. As if 2011. Michael Cole wasn't a thing that existed. Okay. We all remember the coal mine. Second of all, I fully appreciate Michael Cole fighting for his friend and fighting for his friend's honor and being knowledgeable of the fact that Pat was in this mess. He somehow connected to Cole. Cole didn't actually do anything that deserved this, obviously. But. But, I mean, when Cole trips Gunther and pulls down his boot trying to help Pat get the win, it's like, bro, you do not want to start getting involved in matches again unless you want to end up in that orange singlet again.

[Meghan Morant]

And I was hoping we were going to see it. I was really hoping that Cole was going to eat a powerbomb.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, me too. I thought. And I thought he was going to. Both of us were like, oh, my God. So he didn't. Pat ends up getting choked out as we were just talking about, which wasn't a result. That surprised me. You know, it was like Gunther's reminder of, like, look, every now and then, I might lose a big one. But don't get it twisted. Do not get it twisted, even for a second. And I think we saw that.

[Meghan Morant]

That's why they spell my name in all caps.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. As Biggie pointed out, because they do do that.

[Meghan Morant]

They do.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think. Do you think the nod that he gave both McAfee and he threw one to Cole, too. Do you think it was a respect thing? Do you think?

[Meghan Morant]

I think it was this is now behind us thing.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Meghan Morant]

And, like, this is over.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm not mad. You fought. And I. And I think Gunther probably did respect on a level that he fought. I don't think he looks at Pat as, like, you know what? You really are a professional wrestler. But I do think he looks at Pat is like, I respect the fact that you fought me.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah. And I think he gave them the nod saying, this is behind us. Let's move forward.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Meghan Morant]

You get the point.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Meghan Morant]

Don't mess with me nod.

[Sam Roberts]

Right. And. And. And to an extent, I would imagine that we won't see Pat and Cole taking any shots at Gunther.

[Meghan Morant]

I wouldn't. I wouldn't think that very smart.

[Sam Roberts]

Probably over for them, too.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Which is the right way to do it. However, I will tell you this while we got a second. I don't know. I know we talked to Jacob Fatu earlier on tonight's recap show. Yes. Jacob Fat 2 has already been announced for Fanatics Fest.

[Meghan Morant]

Ooh.

[Sam Roberts]

Have you heard about Fanatics Fest?

[Meghan Morant]

It's back.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, I loved it last year. I got to do not Sam wrestling. A couple shows at Fanatics Fest. Last year it was so much fun. This year it's even bigger. It's going to be in New York City this summer. Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22. It's at the Jacob Javits Center. You can grab your tickets now fanaticsfest.com and follow along on Social for all the latest updates and surprises. I'm talking about epic meet and greets, photo ops, autograph sessions. There's immersive WWE activations that you've got to see to believe. Last year they had the big create your own entrance that you maybe have seen at WWE World as well.

[Meghan Morant]

WWE took over Fanatics fast last year and it's going to be even bigger this year.

[Sam Roberts]

Absolutely. We're talking about. They're going to have live podcasts, they're going to have panels, WWE Legends Rising Stars, collectible zones. I mean, if you guys have been watching on Fanatics Live, the boxes I've been breaking, if you've been seeing Triple H and me ripping packs, like the amount of collectibles and live box breaking that happens there, it's. It's really, really amazing. It's just so much fun. There's something for everybody. Make sure you have your eye on all of it. If you're a WWE fan, this is going to be the place to be. Fanatics Fest Javits Center New York City Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22 fanatics festival.com for tickets and yeah, I'm not 100% sure, but I know two people that would have big lines of Fanatics Fest penta and maybe even bigger, your Intercontinental champion, Dominic Mysterio, who got.

[Meghan Morant]

Cheered by over 17,000 in St. Louis tonight.

[Sam Roberts]

And what it like the haters like you that are surprised when Dominic gets cheered?

[Meghan Morant]

Surprised? I just liked it better when he couldn't even get a word out. Crowd booed him.

[Sam Roberts]

He rules funny.

[Meghan Morant]

It was great.

[Sam Roberts]

It's not great. That's not ruled. And by the way, by the way, that's not a funny thing. That's how people get their feelings hurt. That's not funny.

[Meghan Morant]

I don't think Tom had any feelings hurt Dom's feelings. He's a confident guy.

[Sam Roberts]

You could be as confident as you want, but when our truth shows up at a press conference and says you suck and can't wrestle, you get your feelings hurt.

[Meghan Morant]

And then you just put someone through a table.

[Sam Roberts]

Mainly our truth. If you're John Cena.

[Meghan Morant]

Well, if you're Dominic Mysterio, you need help and live Morgan is busy and he found help.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I mean, I thought that was very, very interesting. First of all, great match. You're right about the gear, the cow and everything. I mean, and it's always.

[Meghan Morant]

But also Pentas gear. We got to give.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, all blue Penta rules. Don't get it wrong.

[Meghan Morant]

Coolest entrance in wwe. I'm saying it.

[Sam Roberts]

Whoa, that's a. That's big. It is big. And it's not, you know, it's. It's founded. It's a founded centered statement, but it's a big statement nonetheless. So like, yeah, you're right. Dom got cheered, but Finn Balor, the referee was distracted by Carlito. Finn Balor gets a chair. A chair. As was said on commentary by the non biased Michael Cole, Finn was farting around, which is something my dad says.

[Meghan Morant]

You're over there farting around.

[Sam Roberts]

He says it all the time. Finn was farting around with the chair too long. Referee saw him. You get it? Which is like. Yeah, it's a little sloppy. Ends up getting the entire judgment day booted before. And on their way out, Penta flies over the ropes and attacks all of them just for good measure.

[Meghan Morant]

Look, I know Finn's dressing the part. He's wearing a Latino heat short.

[Sam Roberts]

Daddy Dom. It says Daddy Dom on the back.

[Meghan Morant]

And he's supporting his friend Dominik Mysterio. But I don't know if that farting around was just him stumbling. I think he was maybe taking his time.

[Sam Roberts]

Why would he take his time?

[Meghan Morant]

I think because he wants to be the Intercontinental champion instead of Dominic.

[Sam Roberts]

Good luck. And he realizes there ain't no way he's beaten Dominic.

[Meghan Morant]

I don't know about that.

[Sam Roberts]

I hope you're wrong. I hope that he is in.

[Meghan Morant]

Look, these two have a little bit of a past, right?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Meghan Morant]

Hasn't always been. I know they're brothers, but Hermano, brothers fight. Family's complicated.

[Sam Roberts]

No, I mean, it is. It is. I mean, somehow Finn Balor. Yeah, it is. It's very amazing how quickly he's decided to go like, no, no, no, we're cool. Don't even worry about it. He was not happy at Wrestlemania.

[Meghan Morant]

There's no way. He was super bummed Dom pinned him.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, he was super bummed about it. Although I don't think Dom realized he pinned Finn Balor.

[Meghan Morant]

Yes, he did.

[Sam Roberts]

He told us on Rodriguez.

[Meghan Morant]

I mean, he was very emotional because he had been the Intercontinental champion for like what, 11 minutes?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, they played in the package.

[Meghan Morant]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

That was sick.

[Meghan Morant]

It was awesome.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I know. For us that was so great for us. But then, of course, Grande Americano comes out, interferes.

[Meghan Morant]

Who is that?

[Sam Roberts]

He's a luchador. Okay, Gulf of America now.

[Meghan Morant]

Chad Gable, America.

[Sam Roberts]

No, I don't think so. He interferes, but you know what? People have forgotten? People think that's where he's from. People think that this is just Grande Americano having a problem with Penta. I feel like not enough people bring up the fact that when Chad Gable said he needed to learn the dark arts of lucha libre, who did he go to?

[Meghan Morant]

He went on a quest.

[Sam Roberts]

Who sent him on the quest? Do you remember?

[Meghan Morant]

Was it Dom?

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. Dominic said, I know a guy.

[Meghan Morant]

He did. And remember after Dom tried to recruit Penta, right to the Judgment day, and Penta said, no.

[Sam Roberts]

And then he said to Chad Gable, I know a guy, and they went, and it was never spoken of again. And the next thing you know, Chad Gable is on a quest, as you said, and he found El Grande Americano. I'm just saying that, clearly, Grande and Dom have a relationship that we have yet to discover.

[Meghan Morant]

I followed Grande on Twitter this week.

[Sam Roberts]

I didn't know he had his own account.

[Meghan Morant]

Of course he does.

[Sam Roberts]

Is it in English?

[Meghan Morant]

Sad. Gable retweeted him.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, that's sick.

[Meghan Morant]

And then I said, I need to follow Grande Americano.

[Sam Roberts]

It's good enough for Chad Gable. Does he tweet in espanol or English?

[Meghan Morant]

I thought it was. I think it's Espanol.

[Sam Roberts]

Good. Yeah, that's what I figured. He's a luchador.

[Meghan Morant]

I think he does.

[Sam Roberts]

That makes sense.

[Meghan Morant]

Let me double check it.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, please do. I want to know desperately what language Grande Americano tweets in, because I got to know if he's a good follower or not.

[Meghan Morant]

You're not just gonna. You're just. Don't throw those follows out.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no, no, no.

[Meghan Morant]

This is earned it.

[Sam Roberts]

This isn't serious stuff. This is Twitter.

[Meghan Morant]

It's.

[Sam Roberts]

It's an espanol. Good, authentic. Listen, great backlash. Great fun show. I am eager to see what happens next, and we will all find out together and react to it together and recap it together. We will be back here with the Raw recap on Tuesday morning, Monday night, if you're a night owl, right after Raw, to catch all. All the. The. The backlash of backlash as we move forward to Saturday night's main event. The money in the bank. It's all happening. Megan, this has been great.

[Jacob Fatu]

Awesome.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. We'll see you guys on Monday night after RA.