Judgment Day add MORE gold, Jey Uso saves Penta and Sami Zayn: Raw Recap

Summary

Raw Recap with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant: Judgment Day Adds More Gold, Jey Uso Saves Penta and Sami Zayn

Hosted by WWE x Fanatics Podcasts

Episode Overview Released on July 1, 2025, the "Judgment Day add MORE gold, Jey Uso saves Penta and Sami Zayn" episode of Raw Recap offers listeners an in-depth analysis of the latest happenings on Monday Night Raw. Hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant delve into the chaotic yet exhilarating developments, spotlighting key matches, evolving storylines, and exclusive interviews with WWE Superstars, including a special appearance by legendary official Charles Robinson.

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1. Embracing the Chaos of Raw

Sam Roberts kicks off the episode by celebrating the new World Tag Team Champions and highlighting the current state of the men's main event scene, which he describes as being in "utter chaos" ([02:57]). Megan Morant concurs, emphasizing the dynamic and unpredictable nature of WWE storytelling.

Notable Quote:

• Sam Roberts ([01:29]): “I love to witness chaos. It’s something that I love about WWE, about professional wrestling, when things just get kind of nuts because when it's chaotic, it gets less and less predictable.”

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2. Gunther vs. Bill Goldberg: A Clash of Titans

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Gunther's challenge to the iconic Bill Goldberg. Sam humorously questions if Goldberg can truly be humanized, given his almost mythical presence in the ring ([03:20]).

Notable Quotes:

• Sam Roberts ([03:20]): “I don't know if anybody humanized Goldberg, because Goldberg is... he's almost an essence.”
• Peter Rosenberg ([03:42]): “How did you feel about that if you were, you know, would you rather just be beaten in three minutes?”

Roberts expresses skepticism about the match's outcome, suggesting that Gunther might be overplaying his hand by challenging Goldberg and Seth Rollins simultaneously ([04:00]).

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3. Seth Rollins and the Money in the Bank Briefcase

The hosts dissect Seth Rollins' recent actions with the Money in the Bank briefcase, debating his true intentions and potential impact on the current title landscape ([05:23]). They explore Rollins' strategy of not just targeting CM Punk but also asserting dominance over other champions like Gunther.

Notable Quotes:

• Sam Roberts ([05:38]): “He is here to make it hellacious for anybody holding a WWE World Champion Championship.”
• Peter Rosenberg ([06:25]): “Maybe Seth is leading on too much, telling too many people what he's going to be doing.”

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4. Intersection of Storylines: Gunther, Seth, and CM Punk

The conversation highlights the intricate web of rivalries involving Gunther, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk. Megan points out how these overlapping storylines contribute to the overall intensity and unpredictability of Raw ([07:34]).

Notable Quote:

• Sam Roberts ([11:14]): “We have Gunther Goldberg, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, LA Knight, Sami Zayn, Karrion Kross, Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman trying to figure out who's standing at the top of this thing.”

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5. Charles Robinson’s Memorable Moments and Meme Status

A standout segment features an exclusive interview with Charles Robinson, WWE's legendary acting official. Robinson recounts his dramatic on-screen moment where he was shoulder-checked by John Cena during a Cash-in attempt ([22:03]).

Notable Quotes:

• Charles Robinson ([22:21]): “I was running about 80%. I'm not giving it my all. But I'm running down the ramp, and I see movement out of the...”
• Sam Roberts ([27:03]): “There is a split second where you are in the air cognizant of what's happening, what is going on in your head.”

Robinson humorously reflects on becoming a meme, comparing his experience to past iconic moments like WrestleMania 24 ([34:25]).

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6. The Judgment Day Faction Dominates

Roberts and Megan analyze the dominance of the Judgment Day faction, praising their cohesive performance and sustained success. They discuss the recent addition of Roxanne Perez and the group's continuous accumulation of gold ([56:43]).

Notable Quotes:

• Megan Morant ([57:14]): “Running to the broadcast booth. They're counting on their cohesion to keep them at the top.”
• Sam Roberts ([50:47]): “Look at the Judgment Day. Look at what's going on with this group.”

They commend the group's ability to maintain momentum despite constant skepticism about their longevity ([52:18]).

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7. Evolution Event and Upcoming Matches

The hosts transition to previewing upcoming events, notably the Evolution show and Saturday night's main event featuring Seth Rollins vs. LA Knight. They predict intense matches and further storyline developments ([75:17]).

Notable Quote:

• Sam Roberts ([55:56]): “We’ve got Evolution coming up. We’ve got Saturday night’s main event coming up that we’ve got matches announced now for both of them.”

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8. Sheamus and Rusev: A Dynamic Duo

A passionate discussion unfolds about Sheamus and Rusev's in-ring chemistry. Megan lauds their physical performances and anticipates a potential best-of-seven series, drawing parallels to legendary WrestleMania matches ([61:15]).

Notable Quotes:

• Megan Morant ([60:27]): “He is truly one of our most underrated talents.”
• Sam Roberts ([67:54]): “It's like, it's pretty remarkable. It’s unbelievable.”

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9. Controversy Over El Grande Americano’s Identity

A heated exchange arises when Megan expresses skepticism about El Grande Americano's identity, questioning whether it's still Chad Gable under the mask. The dialogue humorously touches on potential conspiracy theories, though ultimately, Megan stands firm in her opinion ([72:46]).

Notable Quote:

• Megan Morant ([73:46]): “But you know, the cameras. But talent doesn't just suddenly appear to be six inches tall, taller than they were the week before. That’s not how that works.”

Roberts navigates the conversation with humor, maintaining camaraderie despite the disagreement ([74:43]).

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10. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Content

Concluding the episode, Roberts and Megan emphasize the ongoing excitement surrounding WWE's evolving storylines. They encourage listeners to stay tuned for future recaps and upcoming major events, ensuring fans remain engaged with the latest developments on Raw ([75:25]).

Notable Quote:

• Sam Roberts ([75:17]): “What a wild time. We will be back here next week to recap Raw before we're watching Saturday night's main event, before we're watching Evolution.”

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Conclusion

This episode of Raw Recap masterfully navigates the intricate and dynamic landscape of WWE's Raw, providing fans with detailed analyses, engaging debates, and exclusive insights. From the chaos of evolving championship scenes to the legendary moments captured by Charles Robinson, Roberts and Morant ensure listeners are well-informed and thoroughly entertained.

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Notable Highlights:

• Gunther vs. Goldberg: Sam questions Goldberg's humanization and anticipates a short match ([03:20]).
• Seth Rollins’ Ambitions: Analyzing Rollins' strategic maneuvers with the Money in the Bank briefcase ([05:23]).
• Charles Robinson’s Meme Moment: Exclusive interview recounting his near-collide with John Cena ([22:03]).
• Judgment Day’s Dominance: Celebrating the faction's success and new additions like Roxanne Perez ([56:43]).
• Sheamus and Rusev’s Chemistry: Applauding their in-ring performances and potential best-of-seven series ([61:15]).

Memorable Quotes:

• Sam Roberts ([01:29]): “I love to witness chaos… it gets less and less predictable.”
• Charles Robinson ([22:21]): “I thought I was dead. I had no idea what happened.”
• Megan Morant ([60:27]): “He is truly one of our most underrated talents.”

Upcoming Events:

• Evolution Show: Anticipating high-stakes matches and storyline breakthroughs.
• Saturday Night’s Main Event: Seth Rollins vs. LA Knight confirmed as a marquee matchup.

Stay tuned to Raw Recap for comprehensive analyses and exclusive interviews as WWE continues to deliver electrifying entertainment.

Transcript

[Sam Roberts]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

With a Venmo Debit card, you can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show? You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated Card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Sam Roberts]

We have new World Tag Team Champions. The men's main event scene is in utter chaos. Evolution is taking shape. Charles Robinson the Goat is on the show. And so much more. Welcome to RAW Recap, a WWE and Fanatics original production. Megan, Megan, Megan. Like I said, I can't believe we did it. Charles Robinson scheduled to be here on RAW Recap in a little bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ever been more excited for a guest? And that's saying a lot because we know. I love Becky Lynch. She's been on this show. And I am even more excited for Charles Robinson.

[Sam Roberts]

We've had nothing but tremendous guests. But Megan, before we get to Charles Robinson, I've got to say I. I love chaos. I thrive in chaos. I love to witness chaos. It's something that I love about wwe, about professional wrestling, when things just get kind of nuts because when it's chaotic, it gets less and less predictable. And I have been talking about this really since Night of Champions, how Night of Champions ended with John Cena and CM Punk going from a great one on one match to a match that spilled over into. Here comes Bron Breaker. Here comes Bronson Reed, here comes Penta. Here comes Sami Zayn here. I mean, everybody, here comes Charles Robinson. Charles Robinson's coming out. Seth Rollins is coming out like it. It was nuts. And for me, like I've been saying, there were some people that said, no, no, no, just give me one on one. But when you are watching the show and there are just so many stories spilling out over on top of each other, the idea that everything has consequences and people are not playing in this Organized box feels truthful and feels fun. You know what I mean? Here. And, and, and, and you're not seeing this stuff come out of nowhere because you're getting like, be careful. These two don't get along. And when this guy goes over here, this guy who he doesn't get along with is following right behind him, going, no, no, no, no, no, no, I'm not done with you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's almost like everything counts.

[Sam Roberts]

Everything counts. And I feel like tonight's Raw was such a wonderful example of that. So Gunther gets in the ring. And I'm thinking we're just going to get a great Gunther trashing Goldberg segment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bill Goldberg to you. That's Bill.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know if anybody is humanized Goldberg, because Goldberg is. He's almost an essence. I mean, Goldberg is not a human being. Except when it's Gunther, he goes, bill Goldberg. And you're just a guy. So Gunther getting in there, talking about Goldberg, saying he's gonna blow him up, saying he's gonna embarrass him, saying he could beat him in three minutes, but he's gonna choose not to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. How did you feel about that if you were, you know, would you rather just be beaten in three minutes?

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or do you want it dragged out?

[Sam Roberts]

No, I'd rather be beaten in three minutes. I feel like it'd be painful. It would suck. If I'm in there with Gunther, I know he's winning. I'm not Goldberg. I'm Sam Roberts. So as Sam Roberts going in there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm glad you clear.

[Sam Roberts]

You know that a lot of people get confused because same haircut. Well, we call it a haircut.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Peter Rosenberg. And gold.

[Sam Roberts]

And gold.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very confusing.

[Sam Roberts]

It is. It is for me. Peter Rosenberg, I think make it 45 seconds and done, you know, because the result's going to be the same. But I think Gunther is sitting there going like, this isn't. He said that Bill Goldberg is a 58 year old man trying to ride out his career on Gunther's coattails, and that that Gunther is now invested in making Goldberg pay for thinking that he was the one to mess with, that he was the one that Goldberg was going to be able to go out on. So. So while he's sitting there, like, embracing being a bully, talking about how he's going to embarrass Goldberg, Gunther makes the mistake of saying, I'm going to be the one asking who's next? And Gunther, I think, was setting up the idea that he will eventually ask who's next, but who's next? Already answered the question, and now we're rolling. Right now we're in this thing because we thought this was about Goldberg and Gunther, because that's what we've got coming up at Saturday night's main event for. But here comes Seth Rollins now. And you're going. Now, Seth Rollins is here to let Gunther know that. Yes, I have the Money in the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bank briefcase, by the way. Go ahead, New Edition. Money in the bank briefcase.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. Match. The outfit not only matched, the outfit had the logo on it. Beautiful new font. I mean, it was great. It was a wonderful, wonderful Money in the bank briefcase. He said that he never intended on cashing in the briefcase.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, we talked about this a little bit on the Raw recap show, and I was like, did Seth fly all the way to Saudi?

[Sam Roberts]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To. To ruin CM Punk's night? And you said that's exactly what Seth wants you to think.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And guess what? Sam was right again.

[Sam Roberts]

Of course I was right. Of course he attempted. No, he. He was trying to cash in. He had Charles Robinson they're waiting for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did.

[Sam Roberts]

You know what I mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, he was.

[Sam Roberts]

It wasn't just about ruining CM Punk's night. It was about trying to win. But now I think a little bit of revisionist history for Seth Rollins, and he's. But he is making it clear that he is not declaring, that's the title I want. That's the title I want. He is here to make it hellacious for anybody holding a WWE World Champion Championship, be it the World Heavyweight Championship or be it the undisputed championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We talked in the Night of Champions recap show about. Maybe Seth is. Is leading on too much, telling too many people what he's going to be doing, so by being a bit ominous and saying, hey, I'm after World Heavyweight. I'm after the WWE Championship.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe Seth is. Is. Is learning, right? Because if he says, I'm after the World Heavyweight Championship, I mean, we already know.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, that's right. No, I think you're right about that. And I think he is also maybe hedging bets, maybe going like, you know what part of having that briefcase is making a split decision and going like, nope, now's the time that I'm going to pounce.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you got to take advantage of the opportunity.

[Sam Roberts]

But. But Gunther thinks he has Goldberg to worry about. Then he finds out he has Seth to worry about. But Seth is talking to Gunther, forgetting that Seth has CM Punk to worry about. CM Punk comes out, attacks Seth. Seth goes into the audience to escape. CM Punk knocks Gunther over, and Gunther's looking up at him, going, what are you doing? So now we've got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which, by the way, I love Gunter. During the whole Seth CM Punk confrontation, Gunter's just standing there, just watching.

[Sam Roberts]

Because most of us would love to watch something like that, but we'd want to get away because we don't want to get involved in it. Gunther's not afraid of it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

But we go from Gunther's got a problem with Goldberg to Gunther may have a problem with Seth to Seth has a problem with Punk to Punk now may have a problem with Gunther. While we're figuring that out, Seth is laughing in the audience. And by the way, I never even considered CM Punk versus Gunther.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I didn't either.

[Sam Roberts]

And now I'm looking at it going, yeah, I would love to see CM Punk vs Gunther. And then Seth is watching from the audience, and I'm going like, okay. Well, now Seth is in good shape because his problems with CM Punk. But he's also letting Gunther know looks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like he was having a good time up there too. Laughing.

[Sam Roberts]

And you forget LA Knight still hates Seth Rollins. So Seth, worrying about Gunther, realizing he's got to worry about CM Punk didn't remember. He's got to worry about LA Knight as well, who's just sitting there behind him. LA Knight feeling like a million bucks because he doesn't have Gunther on his back. He doesn't have Punk on his back. He is laser focused on Seth Rollins. And this is where actions have consequences, because this all started. If you trace back, you go, how did LA Knight and Seth Rollins start to have a problem with each other? And all you have to do is trace it back step by step and realize it goes back to, like, was it like, Money in the bank qualifiers, King of the Ring qualifiers? It was. Would it be? Whatever it was, Seth's guys got involved and stopped LA Knight from winning the money in the bank. Yes, but they weren't thinking about LA Knight. They were thinking about themselves. Except they should have been thinking about LA Knight. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And LA Knight is showing up on Monday Night Raw again, not letting it go correct.

[Sam Roberts]

Because he. Why would he let it go?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because he could be carrying the briefcase.

[Sam Roberts]

And fans, they go like this. You kidding me? We're watching Money in the bank trying to see LA Knight win that briefcase. Finally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were upset.

[Sam Roberts]

They were upset, going, what are you doing with LA Knight?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And behind the yeah. Movement for over a year now.

[Sam Roberts]

And guess what? Instead of being like, oh, we're moving in a Different direction. That feeling that you have as a fan that you're like, that was supposed to be La Knight's moment. It's now being echoed through into this story where now Seth also has La Knight to deal with. Meanwhile, Sami Zayn and Penta have a huge problem with Seth's group. Except Sammy didn't realize that he's not done with Karrion Kross. He beats Karrion Kross at Night of Champions and goes, okay, now me and Penta go after, as CM Punk put it, bron. Bron. But Karrion Kross says, no, I really want you to admit that you're a liar. And Karrion Kross and beats Sami Zayn up with a lead pipe, which puts him in a prone position for Braun Breaker after a hell of a tag team match to beat Sami Zayn after spearing him. And then. And then Braun. Braun go. Well, we have Penta and Sami Zayn now laid out. Our mission is done. But they forgot about Jey uso. Did I miss anything?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you got. Yep. You got Penta in there. You got Cross. Yeah, I think you got it all.

[Sam Roberts]

So in this one tangled we. We web. This one tangled web, this one story, you have Gunther Goldberg, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, LA Knight, Sami Zayn, Karrion Kross, Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman trying to figure out who's standing at the top of this thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was waiting for Drew McIntyre to show up.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, who knows when Drew's gonna come back and go, did you forget about me? I mean, it's a wild scene right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, and they all want the World Heavyweight Championship, or in Seth's case, any of any championship. Or.

[Sam Roberts]

But. But they don't all, like. Like they all want something. It's not for everyone. I just listed. It's not all about the title.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

But because there's so much overlap, it does end up maybe that I can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like a spider web with the title in the middle and there's.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think the championship is the nucleus of this? Do you think that that truly is the nucleus?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, sort of. Right. Because you have, like, Seth wants the future of the industry. Right.

[Sam Roberts]

So that's the title.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The title. But L. A Knight is mad about Seth because he wants the briefcase, which also would lead.

[Sam Roberts]

Lead to the title. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sammy wants a World Heavyweight Champion, or.

[Sam Roberts]

Just a title, wants to win the championship. That's the title. But carrying Cross wants Sami Zayn to admit he's a Liar.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. And CM Punk.

[Sam Roberts]

But I'm sure Carrie Cross would love to be the champion as well. Maybe the championship is the nucleus of all this. Right. Penta wants to showcase like that. He's been in this game for as long as he's been in this game, and he's a world champion. Main event level talent. Yeah. Maybe that is it. And we are sitting here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then Jay uso, obviously, he lost.

[Sam Roberts]

The title to Gunter, and that all rolls into it. So if you're thinking that, well, Jay USO doesn't have a problem with Gunther. It, by the way, it is still connected because Gunther is connected in this web. And also maybe that's where it starts to circle again. Right. And you go at the end of this thing, and you go. And Jey USO still has a little bit of a problem with Gunther, by the way. Gunther has a problem with Goldberg. And you start going all over again. It's so. I mean, it's nuts, but it's the funnest. It's the funnest way to do this. You know what I mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Like, of all those people, and there's so many people on that list that I just gave. There's so many people, like, fans are watching, and they're going, well, Jay USO's title range shouldn't have been so short. Well, Carrion Cross needs to get an opportunity and get the World Championship. Well, La Knight needs to get an opportunity and get that briefcase. Well, when is Sami Zayn going to finally get a World Championship? And it is all like, bro, they're all in the mix. If you're just sitting there going, right now, the World Heavyweight Championship is about Gunther and Goldberg. No way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you. You write in all your little notebooks all day, it's like, dear Diary, Penta will win a title. And you could write out 17 different scenarios.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, sometimes people go, sam, there's always ink on my thumb. You see it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I see.

[Sam Roberts]

There's always ink on my thumb. People go, why is there always ink on your thumb? Because I'm writing down all these things all the time, trying to keep track of who's doing what and where. It's the wildest thing ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The fantasy booking people are in heaven.

[Sam Roberts]

They're in heaven. Because it could go any. Any direction. But also, if you're trying to be. Well, then this person might run in, and that person might run in, and, like, those are just the people that are putting themselves front and center. There's all these other people on the card. You know, we'll talk about it later. But what's going on? Everything going on with American Alpha. Everything going on with. They're so, it goes so deep. And by the way, this is all just Monday night raw.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have to talk about Alpha Academy or American.

[Sam Roberts]

American Made. The former. Yeah, yeah, we're absolutely going to talk about American made. Guys, you know, when you're Sam Roberts, you got to come with the beard, right? You got to come with the skin, right. You got to come with the smell, right? You got to feel, right. And that's what Harry's is all about. See, in an industry that is full of overpriced and underperforming products, Harry's is your everyday MVP. And right now you can get a $10 trial set from Harry's for only 8 bucks. Plus you're gonna get a free gift if you go to Harry's.com/rawrecap. This is an exclusive offer just for our listeners. I'm talking about German engineered blades made in their own factory. These things stay sharper longer. Customizable delivery options for scheduled refills as low as $2. Half what you pay for those other quote unquote big brands richly lathering skin softening body wash, incense like redwood, wild lens and stone. How about extra strength, high quality, amazing smelling deodorant that is only $5. Plus hair and other grooming products that fit your unique look and needs. Trust me, I got a lot of them. Harry's is there to back me up. Get the edge on your shave with Harry's. Normally their trial is set is $10. But right now you can get the trial set for just $8 plus a free gift at harry's.com rawrecap that's our exclusive link. Harry's.com rawrecap for an eight dollar trial set and a free gift. We're going to get right back to it. But first, I mean I'm sure that you guys have seen me everywhere. You know how busy I am. So when I get home, I need something comfortable. I need to know that I'm home. And you cannot get me out of these Mac Weldon sweatpants. I come home, I take a shower, I put on the Mac Weldon sweatpants. That's how you know I'm not leaving the house. But I could leave the house. You know why? Because even though I'm comfortable, but I look like a million bucks and I'm cool. It's the perfect thing for the summer. Look, Mack Weldon is everything you need. They take care of it. It's not just function, it's fashion as well. I'm talking about button ups, I'm talking about shirts. I'm talking about shorts that are crafted with a lightweight linen blend and coolmax technology. Breathable underwear I may or may not be wearing right now that keeps you cool, dry and comfy all day long. Air knit material that's now available in T shirts and polos that's going to keep you dry all summer. I'm telling you, you cannot miss with Mack Weldon. Get breathable clothes that you can feel comfortable in all summer long. Go to mackweldon.com and get 25 off your first order of $125 or more with promo code RAW recap. That's M A C K W e l d o-n.com promo code RAW recap. But this is all just Monday night Raw. We're not even talking about the fact that over on Friday nights we got, I don't know, another bloodline group. We got Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Over here, John Cena.

[Sam Roberts]

We got John Cena. Now here's the, here's also Cody, Randy, Randy Orton. I mean, you also wonder if John Cena right now, who came back and goes, I'm going to have one more year and I'm going to be the world champion, is looking at what's going on. Because by the way, all that listed name, La Knight's not even a Raw guy. He's a smackdown guy, you know, but he's here, which means that that could all spill out over there. Seth Rollins has been on smackdown a bunch. So I mean, you got to, especially with the briefcase in play, you got to wonder if John Cena is looking around going like, when did this become that? And I think that it's because it goes back to this thing where maybe like a year ago, maybe, maybe it was after Cody dethroned Roman. Maybe it was after the World Heavyweight Championship was first introduced and Seth Rollins won that title. But it started to feel like there was opportunity for new stars to be built. When you saw Cody become this top guy, when you saw La Knight kind of rise up and really grab attention that way. When you saw Jay USO win the Royal Rumble, Damian Priest, Damian Priest is a great example of it. When you see all these people kind of rise above the pack and you realize it's possible maybe there is this thing where maybe years ago it would be like, well, that's the main event scene over here. I'm in my scene over there. It just seems like There was a time where it was much more rigid. Mm. Where it was like, these are the people competing for the world title. These guys are over here. These guys are over here. And now it's anyone's ballgame. And it doesn't feel like anybody is taking no for an answer. That.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a. That's exactly right. I mean, it's. Everybody is willing to do whatever it takes. Nobody is putting themselves in a box saying, I'm a mid Carter or I'm after. Everybody is going for the top prize.

[Sam Roberts]

In wwe with confidence, with confidence, with ownership. They say a rising tide raises all ships, except all those ships are all the way up here going, I'd like to be the top one, please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Although everybody has their reasons, and they're all valid. Every single one of them laid it all out, right.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, Gunther Goldberg, Seth Punk, L.A. knight, Sami Zayn, Karrion Cross, Jay Uso Penta. Tell me, who's on that list that shouldn't be on a list of people who could be the world champion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't name one exactly. Cannot name one.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, it's a wild, wild scene. And quite frankly, I don't know how anybody officiates a scene like this. You know, I mean, by the way, as good as these wrestlers are, maybe nobody better at Segways than me, but because I think that is going to lead us to our first guest. Let's. Let's, for a minute, let's take all of this off the table. We'll get back to it. We. Seth Rollins vs LA Knight is now confirmed for Saturday night's main event. Let's get back to. You got a cough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cough so bad. And you're making this segue take 20 minutes.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, that's my. Yeah, I'm watching. You have to cough. And I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have tears rolling out of my eyes like, I'm.

[Sam Roberts]

Keep going.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm so good at Segways. Listen to me talk. Megan's over there dying.

[Sam Roberts]

Listen, listen. Let's get this off the table. Get any coughs out of your system, because right now we need to talk about what we saw at Night of Champions. We need to talk about that moment. We need to talk to one of the greatest officials to ever do it. Let's. Let's. Let's talk to our first guest on Raw. Recap. Well, I'm going to say it is my and our distinct honor to welcome on somebody that if we didn't know they were already goaded, certainly goaded after this weekend. Ladies and gentlemen, the Most legendary acting official in all of professional wrestling. Charles Robinson. Welcome, my friend.

[Charles Robinson]

Hey, thank you so much for having me. This is awesome. I mean, happy to be with you guys. We're happy to be.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm happy to be alive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's when I saw the tweet. I mean, thank God, because that's what we were all thinking coming off of Night of Champions.

[Charles Robinson]

I mean, so nobody's gonna live.

[Sam Roberts]

So walk us through, right? Because I'm already flabbergasted. Jaw on the floor, watching you run. And Megan and I were like. We watched Night of Champions together, and we're losing our mind. Seeing the meme that we have passed along to each other as well as our friends over and over again. We're seeing it happening in real time. And then watching you get shoulder checked halfway across the arena. I mean, it was a. It was a wild scene.

[Charles Robinson]

It was a very wild scene.

[Megan]

I was.

[Charles Robinson]

I was up in guerrilla position. I just wanted to watch the last match, you know, before I got changed, tore down the ring. All of a sudden, Seth Rollins comes up. He goes, hey, when I call you, come down. Had the briefcase in his hand. So I figure we're gonna have a historic cash in of the briefcase. And, you know, I'm. I'm standing there, and all sudden, he gives the little. And I take off. Now, this is a little different than WrestleMania 24. WrestleMania 24, it was a pin cover, Right? Right, Undertaker. So I'm running as hard as I can. Well, this is. This is a cash in. So I'm running about 80%. I'm not giving it my all.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, he's talking about your all time, Pat.

[Megan]

So I'm trying to hold back.

[Charles Robinson]

Okay. It's a funny stride. I'm trying to hold back a little bit. Thank God. Because if I'd been going 100%, the collision would have been much worse. But I'm running down the ramp, and I see movement out of the. Out of my eye. I thought it was Stu, the camera guy.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, yeah, right, yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

So then I divert back straight. All of a sudden, bam.

[Sam Roberts]

You're airborne.

[Megan]

Airborne.

[Charles Robinson]

And they tell me that John Cena hit. Is that who hit me?

[Sam Roberts]

That is 100% who hit you. But, okay, so first of all. First of all. First of all, the fact that you're running 80% is insane because I also think. Here's the thing about memes. Memes make it seem like things are happening right now. Like, part of memes being forever is that there's no sort of time context on it talking about WrestleMania 24. We're talking about at this point, 17 years ago. You're talking about like, like a, a lot of time between these two things. And it's as if when you watch them back to back, no time has passed at all. Do you, do you sprint in your day to day life just in case something like this comes up?

[Charles Robinson]

I'm, I'm like our co host here. I love to run. I only run three or four miles. I don't do the, the marathons like she does, which is very impressive. But you know, I'll run three or four miles three or four times a week. I just love to run, so. And I like to run my mouth, so I have to learn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now at the end of every run, are you like, let's pretend like it's wrestlemania24.

[Charles Robinson]

I do do a sprint right at the very, very. I do like a hundred yard dash so fast as I can.

[Sam Roberts]

Is there any moment when you're running down that ramp in Riyadh that you. Because I'm sitting there watching, right. And probably about halfway through I start going, oh, no, there's a lot that could go wrong here. Like you could, you could tear a hamstring or a quad. You could trip. I mean, we've seen.

[Charles Robinson]

I could do a Titus in Saudi.

[Sam Roberts]

Arabia and that's where it happened.

[Charles Robinson]

That's exactly what was going through my mind. I was so scared of that.

[Sam Roberts]

Was there anything.

[Charles Robinson]

I just wanted to get down.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

Slide in the ring, grab the briefcase, hand it over and be done.

[Sam Roberts]

You're the airborne nature of the way in which you were struck by the never seen 17. There had to be, at least there had to be a split second where you are in the air cognizant of what's happening, what is going on in your head after the strike as you are in the air before you're planted.

[Charles Robinson]

Down, I thought, I'm dead. I had no idea what happened. I had no idea what happened. So like I said, I was only running 80%, so 100%. It could have been different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that was a lucky inches.

[Charles Robinson]

I mean, if you look at where I landed, I was inches from the stairs.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

So yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. And I mean, when you're up in the air like that, there's no way that you're sitting there like, like, you know, calculating exactly where you're going to land. I mean there is.

[Charles Robinson]

Oh, there's. It was zero me. It was all John C. Yeah. And nothing to do with me. I just ran in a straight line and he hit.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, where he put me, was there any, like, feeling. I know you said. You said you went 80%, but the. The difference in the way your body felt running that distance as quick as you ran it from WrestleMania 24 to two nights ago, was there any. Did you notice anything physiologically different? Did you notice. Aside from, you know, John Cena planting you into the ground, did you notice any physical effects that were different?

[Charles Robinson]

I was numb when he hit me. Yeah, I went numb. I did not even feel hitting the ground afterwards. I think it was Dan Engler, just the referee in the match. He came over and helped me out. Legs were shaking. I. I didn't know where I was. Yeah, I mean, it was pretty amazing.

[Sam Roberts]

And, and, and, and by the way, I was doing my podcast, right. And I'm like, like, trying to put the night together, and I didn't really put this together until I rewatched a bunch of it. That you were the referee in the opening match with Cody and Randy. So you talk about what a match. Yeah, I mean, incredible match. You were all over the place for. Incredible, incredible match. But you talk about bookending that thing. There was not one moment where you're running down that ramp going, I might. Like, this is the thing. Like, I might trip right here.

[Charles Robinson]

Yes. Oh, of course. Yeah, absolutely. Because it's so steep.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Charles Robinson]

I was very scared I was going to fall down.

[Sam Roberts]

Did you. Was there any part, like, when you're running, do you. Did you know, did you have a good semblance in your head of how long this ramp is? Or did you start running and go, this is a lot longer than I realized?

[Charles Robinson]

Well, I'd been in Saudi for a week.

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

Setting up.

[Megan]

Oh, wow.

[Charles Robinson]

So I had walked up and down that ramp 50 times, so I knew it was a long ramp. I don't think it was quite as long as the WrestleMania ramp.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Charles Robinson]

But it was a long, long ramp.

[Sam Roberts]

Did you.

[Charles Robinson]

I knew I kn. That distance. I wouldn't be too blown up.

[Sam Roberts]

Look at that. I love. Everything's a little bit of a humble brag, too. Everything's a little bit of a humble brag.

[Charles Robinson]

I'm just stating facts. What are you talking about?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you say 80%. Like, what are we talking on a treadmill? Are we talking, like, you know, 8.0, 9 point, like, what, what miles per hour are we talking? If you were to go on the treadmill, what would 80% be for Charles Robinson?

[Charles Robinson]

Oh, probably 8.5.

[Sam Roberts]

8.5.

[Charles Robinson]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's clipping along. Yeah, that's sub seven pace.

[Charles Robinson]

Maybe.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

You know, I mean, that's. For a short amount of time. I can't do what you do. My. My miles when I run are usually eight and a half tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, you tweeted out I'm alive. There would have been no tweet from my account because I actually would have been dead. But when Seth did tell you, you know, like, you're sitting in gorilla, and he said, you know, come out when I call you, did you start stretching at any point?

[Sam Roberts]

That's no humble brag.

[Charles Robinson]

Because I was warmed up from earlier, you know, so. And I walk a lot around the arena. I do 30,000 steps a day. What, when we're at the stadium shows.

[Sam Roberts]

Humble brag. That's not a humble brag.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think if we're learning, we're learning. This is really the secret to looking as good as Charles Robinson.

[Sam Roberts]

As Charles Robinson. Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

I just don't like to sit down. I don't like to be lazy. You know, I like to keep moving.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, did you still have to. Did you still have to tear down the ring after all that?

[Charles Robinson]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. Okay. That's the question. I mean, yeah, I, I, Brian Tran.

[Charles Robinson]

And myself, we tore down the ring.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow, that's in.

[Charles Robinson]

He started. I came out maybe 30 minutes after everyone left. So.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Charles Robinson]

I had to recover, man. I had to get my thoughts.

[Sam Roberts]

Of course you did. I would have got home.

[Charles Robinson]

You know, the sad thing, the really sad thing about this whole thing is, you know, I thought John Cena myself, we had a mutual respect for one another.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

Especially, you know, a referee. Tied Ric Flair's title raid right. Against AJ Styles at Royal Rumble. But we had a little bit of respect afterwards. He said nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Sam Roberts]

That'S a different John Cena. Yeah. I mean, look, you talk about everything that you've done and, you know, talk about, you know, the respect you have with John Cena. But I remember, like, you know, last time you and I had a conversation, it was in Los Angeles. It was at Money in the bank, and I was sitting with you, and I came to the realization as we were talking about worlds collide and we were talking about Conan doing commentary for it, I went, oh, my God. You refereed Conan's matches. Like, that's how much you've seen in this world. Like, you were on nitro refereeing. You went through every era that we can think of. I mean, you're a big part. You see that little nature robe that is on display right behind you. I mean, and moments are still being made. You're here to talk about a moment that was just made with you just over the weekend. Is there a singular or a handful of really kind of favorite moments that you've had in your career?

[Charles Robinson]

You know, back in WCW doing the Hogan Goldberg match at the Georgia Dome. That was huge.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

Then, of course, in wwe, Flair, Shawn Michaels, when Ric Flair retired Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, when Shawn Michaels retired aj, John Cena.

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

There's just so many, you know, and I don't want to leave anybody out because every match is an honor and really it's a privilege to do.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you. Do you spend time reflecting? Are you a reflective person? Do you spend time, like, thinking about the fact that wrestling fans like us, we. We all have our rankings of the top 10 greatest matches of all time. But the matches that you just mentioned, I. I mean, I can't imagine somebody having a list that you're not involved in a bunch of the matches. Do you think about, like, how much wrestling history you've actually touched?

[Charles Robinson]

I do, you know, but I was just lucky to be put in those positions. It's not like somebody said, hey, I want Charles for me, or anything. I was just lucky. Right place, right time, you know, And I learned from some of the best referees in the business, and that helped a lot, too.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think are you kind of in that role yourself now where, like, as referees come in, it's like you're the kind of. You're the Obi Wan.

[Charles Robinson]

Yeah, Yeah, I guess I'm the dad, you know. You know, and. And I like for them to get the opportunities to work with, with the guys that I've already worked with that they haven't had that chance, you know.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

It's time to share, you know, I had my time in the spotlight. It's time to share.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, yeah, but, you know, time is still now in the spotlight. I just watched you on Saturday, and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, memes live forever.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I don't think memes were a thing 17 years ago. So when did it, you know, come to your knowledge that. That you were. You were meme? Did someone send it to you? Do you use the meme?

[Charles Robinson]

I get the WrestleMania 24 all the time. I mean, there has to be a thousand different memes. I wish there was some way to make a little money off topic, because you see it for everything, whether it's running to the bathroom because you're out of paper or full of paper or whatever the case may be, there is a meme for it. Going to get your hair done. I remember After Covid.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

People run into the gym, people running and get their nails done. People going to get their hair done. So many different memes. So hopefully this one will do pretty good, too.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is wild. It was, like, 17 years ago, and all of a sudden, the clip resurfaces, and it's everywhere. For. It can be used for so different circumstances.

[Charles Robinson]

It's. It's nuts. I have people come up to me, and they know nothing about wrestling, but they'll say, hey, you're that mean guy.

[Sam Roberts]

Right?

[Charles Robinson]

That's pretty cool.

[Sam Roberts]

And when you were doing it in Riyadh, when you're running to the ring, are you in your head going, like, we're doing it, we're doing it. As long as the camera shot's good, we got another one.

[Charles Robinson]

Yeah. I was actually. Last WrestleMania, I was like, man, I hope I get to do it again. Which is fantastic.

[Sam Roberts]

It really is, man. It really, really is. I mean, it's. What do you think right when I'm looking at these comments? Because like I told you before, we were talking about this. Just as. As far when we were recapping Night of Champions, Megan and I had a conversation about your. This moment involving you, and they put a clip out of it. It gets a million views in 24 hours, and I'm looking at the comments on it, and it's all just talking about what a goat you are and people calling for your hall of Fame induction, which hasn't yet happened. There are a handful of referees I think that you could put on my list anyway, of people who need to be inducted. When you start hearing fans going, you got to put Charles Robinson in the hall of Fame. How do you feel?

[Charles Robinson]

What? It makes me feel good, but hold on. I get a little choked up, so. No, I just think there's a lot of other guys that should be put in first maybe one day, but there's a lot of other deserving guys besides myself.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, see, that's.

[Charles Robinson]

That's the way I feel now.

[Sam Roberts]

Now the humility kicks in. Now the humble part of the humble brag kicks in.

[Charles Robinson]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, when it happens one day, maybe you can recreate the meme again and run. Run down the ramp.

[Charles Robinson]

They'll build me a rap stage.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Charles Robinson]

So it'd be awesome, but hopefully I still have a long career as a referee.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Charles Robinson]

I would like to get a full 30 just with WWE, you know, so I started in 2001, so hopefully we can get another six years out of.

[Sam Roberts]

And you still love it?

[Charles Robinson]

I still Love it. And I feel great.

[Sam Roberts]

That's awesome. That's awesome, man. You are. I mean, I mean, you're, you're, you're a specimen. It's, I mean, it's, it's.

[Charles Robinson]

I mean, I'm a specimen. All right.

[Sam Roberts]

You are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you going to ask him the last question?

[Sam Roberts]

What's the last question?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were telling me that you wanted to know about his hair care routine because you were going to.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, listen, listen, listen, Charles Robinson. There was a time in my life like, like for me, if you look at a picture of me, even 10 years ago, you know, I mean, I've aged.

[Charles Robinson]

I know. I remember you.

[Sam Roberts]

Of course you remember.

[Charles Robinson]

I remember.

[Sam Roberts]

And I don't know. I don't know what happened.

[Charles Robinson]

It just, it just left one day. One day.

[Sam Roberts]

God. God. And completely. I had to change everything. I mean, do you have a daily hair care regimen?

[Charles Robinson]

Yeah, I wash and condition. You know, a little lotion in. Yeah, I moisturize my face. Moisturizing.

[Megan]

Very, very important.

[Charles Robinson]

Be sure to do it sunscreen during this, during the year, not just during the summer. So you and.

[Sam Roberts]

You and Dominic Mysterio, I bet, could exchange good beauty tips.

[Charles Robinson]

I know he has pretty good hair. Hey, I am a seven time slammy award winning for best hair.

[Sam Roberts]

Really?

[Charles Robinson]

Category?

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Charles Robinson]

It's a hidden category no one knows about.

[Sam Roberts]

I didn't know about that one. And I, I study this game. Wow. Don't.

[Charles Robinson]

Don't look into it.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay.

[Charles Robinson]

You know, don't dig too deep. But you know, Dolph Ziggler, Summer Ray, me, we all fought for that seven years.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Charles Robinson]

I expect eight.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, congrats on that. Congrats on all your secret slammies. Congrats on your moments. Congrats on surviving, just being alive. And I mean, man, it is. We really appreciate you making the time for us.

[Charles Robinson]

I hope everything was okay. I'm not used to doing these things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's great, Charles. You're the best.

[Charles Robinson]

It's great to talk to you.

[Sam Roberts]

You chill. It's wonderful to talk to you, Charles Robinson. Thank you, you goat. We appreciate you.

[Charles Robinson]

Well, thank you to you. I love you guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We love you.

[Sam Roberts]

With a $5 meal deal with new McValue. You pick a McDouble or a McChicken. Then get a small fry, a small drink and a four piece McNuggets. That's a lot of McDonald's for not a lot of money. Prices of Participation may vary. McDouble meal, $6 in some markets for a limited time only. Have you ever spotted McDonald's hot crispy fries right as they're being scooped into the carton. And time just stands still.

[Megan]

The Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

University helps you go from I know the way to I've arrived with our top 10 ranked online MBA. Gain skills you can learn today and apply tomorrow. Get ready to go from make it happen to made it happen and keep striving. Visit strayer.edu Jack WelchMBA to learn more. Strayer University is certified to operate in Virginia by Chev and has many campuses.

[Megan]

Including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia. Race the Rudders. Raise the sails. Raise the sails.

[Sam Roberts]

Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching.

[Charles Robinson]

Over. Roger.

[Megan]

Wait. Is that an enterprise sales solution?

[Sam Roberts]

Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors. With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title and more. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started today at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply. I mean, how great is Charles Robinson?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think what you forgot was the conditioning of your hair.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you could go back in time and use some conditioner.

[Sam Roberts]

Although I don't know. I mean in terms of. In terms of conditioning, I don't know if I pick the conditioning of my hair or just his physical conditioning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's in unbelievable shape because let me.

[Sam Roberts]

Tell you something, I'm not going to dox anybody and put anybody on blast for their age, but when I am the same age as Charles Robinson, if I make it that far, I'm going to look terrible. So the fact that he looks like that, he's still little nature in my eyes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think he eats too many tendies.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, there's no such thing as too many tendies. But you know what else there's no such thing as?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's that?

[Sam Roberts]

Too many carrying cross T shirts. Our friend of the show Carrion Cross, who may not have won, but obviously his war with Sami Zayn is far from over, has three new T shirts along with scarlet available on WWE Shop and Fanatics right now. The cross cult continues to grow. We saw that out of nowhere he became one of the top merch sellers in the wwe. There is a demand from fans that want to represent carrying cross and scarlet. And there are three new shirts available right now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. There's also a new Bailey shirt Roxanne Perez shirt. Yeah, the Roxanne Perez says get rocksed. Bailey has a new role model T shirt. All of them available right now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. Get your fit right, get into it. And I mean, I want to talk about all of that in a. In a moment. I want to talk about the judgment day. But we saw at the beginning of Monday Night Raw tonight, a match made for Evolution. EO Scott Rhea Ripley opened the show and I think she reflected Monday night mommy. Monday night mommy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nice ring to it.

[Sam Roberts]

Has a ring to it. I love that everybody is doing the their own Monday Night Raw alliteration. I think that's great. But I think that you remember we talked about Rhea Ripley and the fact that she beat Raquel and it was an unbelievable match at Night of Champions. But this idea that after she stood tall, it started to feel like, okay, it's time for her to get back on top, and if she's not on top, who is she? And I think that that was reflected when she came to the ring and she said, okay, it's time. And I think that EO coming out and interrupting her and almost acknowledging that, like, yeah, it's time, and that's why I'm here, was a big moment. But EO chose to defend her title against Rio Ripley at Evolution, which, I mean, it feels very eo.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I mean, I don't know if it is necessarily the smartest decision if you want to hold on to the title, but if you want to be on top, you have to beat the best. And EO even pointed out Rhea Ripley is the best, but Eo, she looked confident as ever.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, yeah, because she's. But you know what it is? I think people didn't expect her to win the title, didn't expect her to keep the title. I was thinking about that. She's still here as the women's World Champion. And even the people that like IYO sky were almost getting their angry tweets ready because they knew she was just going to lose it and she didn't. And it's like, oh, this is a. This is a rain. This is a. This is a run as champion reign.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But one of the best matches that we've ever seen at WrestleMania and the.

[Sam Roberts]

Fact that EO is known as potentially the best in ring wrestler on the women's roster right now. And I think that that's something that EO has pride in. And that's why for somebody like that, you go, yeah, I want to have the biggest match on this show. I'm. I'm the women's World Champion. I want to have the biggest championship match that you could have on this historic second Evolution show. It's been years in the making. Let's make it happen. And if I'm going to be the person who walks out of that show with the championship, I want it to be a moment where the best gets the second, best gets beaten and the best is declared.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But then Rhea Ripley says to her, just remember, whatever happens at Evolution, you asked for this.

[Sam Roberts]

Right? This is what you wanted. Right? And I love that. Yeah. I love the idea that this is not, you know, a respectful, let's shake hands and fight with honor. This is Rhea Ripley going in there and being like, no, I respect you right now, but I'm going to tear you to shreds because I have to. And she does have to, in my opinion. Ria's got to. Because you're going to have to explain to me where Rhea fits in. If she's almost the best, arguably the most popular, arguably the biggest star, but can't beat Esky for the championship, and so far, she can't beat Esky for the championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I mean, I spot no lies in that. So, I mean, I think that's. Rhea will have to do whatever it takes to get that title back.

[Sam Roberts]

How many people can laugh in Rhea's face the way IYO did? Like, how many people, when Rhea is staring a hole in them, look back at Rhea Ripley and go like, oh, yeah, I'm ready for. This is going to be a fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Match without getting completely destroyed and living to tell the tale. I think IYO might be the only one, but I think that also speaks to the respect that Ria has for iyo.

[Sam Roberts]

Let's point to the only person that could do that. Do the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You in the point.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that. And I. And I think, too, that, like, you know, when you look at Evolution and the way it's being built, we saw the announcement come from Nick Aldis and Adam Pierce that they're going to put together a battle royal at Evolution where the winner will get a championship match at Clash in Paris. We know that Roxanne Perez is now teaming with Raquel as the women's tag team champion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So she's officially in the Judgment Day.

[Sam Roberts]

She's in the Judgment Day and they're. I don't know if it'll be there. Maybe their first defense as tag team champions will be an early defense anyway, will be at Evolution against a Raw, a Smackdown, and an NXT team. So you're looking at a fatal four way there. And I think as this Evolution card builds to get back to Rhea and IO both of those Two women want to be the centerpiece of the division. And that centerpiece, if that is it is going to look entirely different than what that first evolution show did. And I think that that's probably a goal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And in. You mentioned Iyo and Ria, but then you talk about the other side of things. It's like, we still have Becky Lynch. We still have Bailey, we still have Charlotte, we still have Tiffany.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, that's right. I, I, I. And you go, I'm sitting here talking about the biggest star. You think Becky is gonna like the fact that that's the way people are talking?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

You think Becky and Charlotte and Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair and Bailey. You think all those women are sitting there going like, yep, it's time to pass the torch. Becky straight up told us on this podcast, it's not time to pass the torch. It's my torch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. The men don't have to pass the torch.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, the men are fighting for it tooth and nail.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. We just laid out.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know whose torch it is anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Sam Roberts]

Absolutely right. That's absolutely right. Now, I saw your, your, your, your, your eyebrows perk up when I brought up the judgment day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. You know, because they're drip. They're dripping in gold. Congratulations to the judgment day. It was, it was a big night. Kind of a bummer, though, for your guy Dominic, how he can't talk about the.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, it's unfortunate for him. It's, you know, and it's unfortunate that he's getting. Has somebody like AJ Styles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what, what it's unfortunate for. It's unfortunate for the Intercontinental Championship, a championship that was built upon prestige, the working man's title. This is a title that should be defended weekly, but he can't. I mean, Dominic is doing it a disservice.

[Sam Roberts]

Are you injury shaming Dominic?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not. I am not.

[Sam Roberts]

You don't choose to be injured.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, if you can't get out there and defend the Intercontinental Championship, what are you doing holding it?

[Sam Roberts]

You sound like Xavier woods and Kofi Kingston right now. That's who you sound like when you say things like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, because I sound like Dominic Winner and they didn't win tonight.

[Sam Roberts]

Dominic is injured because he was defending the title so frequently.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One time.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know. I don't. I'm not a statistician. H. You know, I'm not, I'm not like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I saw AJ Styles put on his glasses, which is a good look for AJ Styles. I love when AJ puts on the glasses and he, he didn't seem like. I mean, I didn't get a close up look on it. AJ did.

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it, it didn't seem like that doctor's note was legitimate whatsoever.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I don't think. I don't think AJ read the note legitimately because AJ said he did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He put his glasses on.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, but he said it said punk ass on it. I don't think doctors write that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, when it comes to Dominic Mysterio, though.

[Sam Roberts]

But look, let's talk about. No, no. I mean, you can be a hater all you want, it doesn't matter because, like, look at what's going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Aren't you just like, as a wrestling purist, aren't you at all a little bit disgusted by the fact that the intercontinental title of all titles is not being defended right now?

[Sam Roberts]

Do I look disgusted?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you don't.

[Sam Roberts]

No, I'm not disgusted at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, maybe I'll have to take away your wrestling purist card. Revoke it.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no, no, no. I got punch cards in there. I'm about to get a free ice cream sundae. You can't take away my purist card. Listen, look at the Judgment day. Look at what's going on with this group. All of a sudden, once again, everybody counts out the judgment Day. And once again, every single member of the group has gold. Every single member of the group is agreeing with each other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It even looks like Raquel and Roxanne Perez were sort of.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, Roxanne Perez and Roxanne Perez has been there for Raquel multiple times. And I think that, you know, there's no reason to say they wouldn't win together. But the look of, of first of all, the reaction that Finn Balor and J.D. mcDonough got, people were cheering for him. People were happy that the Judgment Day had the tag team championship back. Finn Balor wrestled as you know what. Off. JD McDonough wrestled as you know what off. And Dominic Mysterio hanging there with him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Doesn'T look injured whatsoever to me.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, well, guess what? It doesn't matter if you look injured. That's insensitive. You're, you know, you don't look injured, but you got your knee scraped because you don't want to run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right?

[Sam Roberts]

You know what I mean? How does that feel? Good or bad?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it didn't feel good.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, then how do you think Dom feels?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Face planted this morning at 5am that's what I'm saying. But I didn't show up to work with a doctor's note saying, I can't podcast.

[Sam Roberts]

You limped in the door.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So I'm here playing hurt. Something that Dominic's not willing to do. The intercontinental champion of podcasting, I'm sure.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm sure he would podcast with us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, he was there yapping. He would be fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Jamie McDonough.

[Sam Roberts]

Go ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is amazing.

[Sam Roberts]

Of course he is. The whole Judgment Day is amazing. And when you look at them, here's what's amazing about the Judgment Day. Once again, Judgment Day is on top. Everybody's counting them out. Every week you turn on the tv, oh, Judgment Day is going to break up. They couldn't be winning more. They're going to get tired of winning. They're winning so much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I did love the new day. Putting out the Photoshop graphic of the match before it happened. It was. I think it was. I don't know if it was. I think it was Woods. He put the Labu boo.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Over JD's face, which is excellent because, you know, JD always gets mocked for having a big head.

[Sam Roberts]

But guess what? Photoshop Lububu is all you want. Maybe you should have been concentrating on keeping the Tag Team championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. Because this is all, you know, we've been talking about moments. I feel like that was a moment when all the Judgment Day was together with the fireworks going off behind them. We talk about Charles Robinson, about his moments. It's just moment after moment after moment after moment. And to me, one of my favorite things to do with moments is find them captured forever on a Tops now trading card and get those cards and then look and go, I remember that moment. Matter of fact, I have my Tops now card from WrestleMania. You can't get it anymore, but I got it. And I look at the night that Dominik Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship because Tops now locked it in for me. Now you can't get the WrestleMania cards anymore, of course, because you can only get these cards for, like, three days. But Topps now is celebrating Night of Champions, so Topps is coming out with a Cody Rhodes King of the Ring card. You know, we talk about all the. How decorated Cody Rhodes is. Now we get to have that moment that he won the King of the Ring crown, and you can have it on a card forever. And by the way, like always, you order a Tops now card, you're going to get this base card that is only printed to order, meaning the people who order it within those three days are the only ones that get it and then it's never made again. But even those people that order, if you're really lucky, you're going to get a colored refractor or a parallel or, you know, sometimes they're signed. I mean, Jade Cargill is going to get her own Tops now card, which will be her Queen of the ring card. One lucky fan is going to get an autographed version of the Jade Cargill Queen of the ring card. How about a solo? So you love solo Sokoa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Four letters, one word. Stop.

[Sam Roberts]

So don't you want to remember that forever? What have I told you? That Solo Sikoa is celebrating his United States Championship win. Tops now card. And finally, wait till. This is very likely, very likely later this week, right? So you can get, you can go now. You can check all that out. Tops now Very likely later this week we're going to see a dual is what I'm hearing. CM Punk, John Cena card from their match and fans who order that card. One lucky fan is going to get a signed version signed by both John Cena and CM Punk. This is the game, man. Check it all out now. Topps.com for all these cards. Sign up for notifications. So you never miss a drop because you go in and you look at the cards that are no longer for sale, the sold out versions. It'll depress you at how much you've.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Missed, but can't live in the past.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no, no. So get it now. Tops.com. check them all out. Tops now it rules. But you know who else rules?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who?

[Sam Roberts]

Our next guest here on Raw recap. Yes, back here on RAW recap. Big E. There he is. What's going on, man? How are you?

[Megan]

I'm good, I'm good. I was going to say I love an early start time even though I'm on the west coast. It's nice to have some afternoon graps. Big fan.

[Sam Roberts]

Afternoon grabs are the absolute best. I mean, first biggie, we have to ask you.

[Megan]

I know where this is going.

[Sam Roberts]

New Tag Team Champions.

[Megan]

Yeah. Real solemn day in my household, though. So many tears were shed. Actually, I don't know if you saw my Twitter, but I sent out a Seinfeld gif. That's a shame. You know, have you seen that one with Jerry?

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Megan]

That's a real shame. I'm real broken up about that. But look, they had a fantastic match. I thoroughly enjoyed that match. You know, the new day. Busting out the midnight hour, which worked when I was around, does not work when they use it Weird. Weird, but, yeah, very, very strange. But look, shout out to the Judgment Day. Right now. They are once again Drake in gold. Very successful. Seeing the addition. The official addition of Roxanne to the group as well. A lot. A lot going very well for the judge. The Judgment Day once again, all of.

[Sam Roberts]

A sudden, too, right? I mean, you know, from. From being in a faction that there are times when people go, oh, they're going to break up. Oh, they're not going to break up. And you power through the new day, powered through a lot of that for many, many, many years. You look at the Judgment Day, I think it's striking not only how long they've been around, but I don't know that there's another faction that it's been dangled this many times that they're about to break up, and then all of a sudden, they win everything again.

[Megan]

Yeah, man, you are right. There's so many times I expected, okay, this is the week or in a couple weeks from now, this is the end of the Judgment Day. We'll see where Dom goes. We'll see where Liv goes. But, you know, they've had so many different iterations. I got to give credit. So I think R Truth pumped a lot of new life into them, much like Jamie Zayn did with the bloodline as well. I think that definitely helped. Seeing Roxanne, who is so talented, I love. We have so many vets like Finn in the group. We had Damian Priest for a while, but now bringing in the prodigy, bringing in someone who is young, who's doing incredible things. I think this is going to be a really great look for Roxanne. I think it's going to be great for her career. Who knows how things shake out when Liv comes back. But. But right now, I. I'm really intrigued to see where this tag team of Raquel and Roxanne goes. I think they could have some real chemistry. I've also been a big fan of the. You know, it's like the. The Diesel Shawn Michaels. You got the. You got the giant, and you got the smaller, scrappier worker in there as well. So I'm really intrigued to see where this tag team goes in the Judgment Day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you think that's what Finn's doing? He's just out there recruiting? He's not at all, like, stirring the pot whatsoever. He's just recruiting talent for the Judgment Day.

[Megan]

Yeah, I mean, he's. He's a big stir, but just because he is stirring a pot doesn't mean it won't be for the benefit of the group long term.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right.

[Megan]

Obviously missing live is. There's a big hole in the group without Liv and it doesn't. It. It didn't quite feel the same with her absence. And now I'm intrigued to see how Roxanne plays. Obviously no one can quite fill Liv's shoes, but I don't think that's what Roxanne has to do here. I don't think she has to be live or does exactly what Liv does. She's her own talent, her own superstar and she has her own trajectory. So, of course, Finn is always stirring the pot. It's very clear. Oftentimes we see him in the corner with a side eye or a smug smile. He knows what he's doing. But I think in the long run this could really be beneficial for all the members of the Judgment Day, maybe live aside.

[Sam Roberts]

And I think too. And a lot of people are probably wondering what you think. I mean, with, with as much as you've seen and as much as you've done in this world of wrestling, it's wild how lit Dominic is, right?

[Megan]

You, you and your love for. For Dom is unbelievable. I get he's an incredible talent. Like not. But yeah, you, you, you're a little extra.

[Sam Roberts]

What do you think?

[Megan]

Dip on your chip, Sam?

[Sam Roberts]

I don't mean to put.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you think Roxanne could be good for Dominic? I mean, he does get a little lonely sometimes.

[Sam Roberts]

Good for. I mean, I mean, it's his Dominic. Good for them, I think would be the question that anybody you'd ask for. Anybody. Dominic is the prize.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, he is gorgeous.

[Sam Roberts]

I didn't say it. I didn't say it. What did you think of woods switching over to trunks instead of the long. Yeah, instead of the long.

[Megan]

Boys, I'm going to try to be unbiased and, you know, put my new day beef aside. I will say it's clear he's been, he's been working on his body a lot of. I don't know exactly what he's doing with the thirst traps and whatnot online, but, you know, he's yoked. And I feel like, you know, in wrestling, if you got big thick legs, you should show him off. He's got, he's got good, good legs. So I think the trunks work for the kid. I don't know, whatever midlife crisis he's going through currently, there's clearly some internal turmoil, but it's not a bad look, I'll give him that.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, I'm glad you Maintained your decorum and professionalism through that.

[Megan]

Yeah, that's what I do more than anything. You know what I mean? I've always been described, even when I was humping the mat during my career, I was the peak of decorum. Yes, that was me.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. And, you know, I mean, one of the times that you would certainly hump the mat, especially at live events, I remember seeing, I remember sitting in the audience and the lights would go down and you and all your friends would be making all kinds of gyrations as Seamus's music would play. Seamus. And I was thinking about you, actually, when I watched Rusev vs Seamus tonight, because I said if there was ever a match that was just designed for the type of fan that Biggie is of pro wrestling, I feel like Rusev and Seamus must have been right up your alley.

[Megan]

I'm just gonna say we could do the whole Raw recap on that match alone. Yeah, I also tweeted that. But like, two minutes into the match, I've seen enough. I want a best of seven series right now. I think re signing Rusev, bringing him in solely to have matches like this, he is worth every penny and then some. I love the match from start to finish. I have been in the ring with both those guys many, many times and they are two of the very hardest hitting talent in WWWE in the 16 years I've ever been, you know, my time here in wwe, those guys at the very top of the list. I love the match, I love the intensity and you know, it's such a stark contrast. You know, look, I love Tope's, I love the Frankensteiners, I love a lot of the high flying stuff that we get to see. But just seeing two guys be ground based and beat the ever living hell out of each other, I enjoyed every single moment of it. It was, you know, I think for a lot of us who knew what those two could do together, the bar was pretty high and they met and exceeded that bar, I hope. I really feel like this is just the beginning, but man, it reminded me so much of that incredible triple threat at WrestleMania in LA with Gunther, with Sheamus, with Drew McIntyre. Like that for me as much, I have respect for so many different styles of wrestling, but this was made for me. This was tailored, made for me. Those two guys brought it. I loved it. It was athletic, it was aggressive. Everything they did was with intention. Masterful, masterful stuff.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think too, I mean, you talk about like wanting to see a best of seven, right? And that goes back like when you look at Seamus, you could go back to the matches with Cesaro. You could, you could talk about. For me, as much as I love that WrestleMania triple threat, the one on one match that Seamus and Gunther had at that class show, like I feel like was, I mean it was mind blow. Even as an adult, like you think those mind blowing matches where it almost changes how you look at things, like that stuff that you watch when you're a kid and you're evolving as a fan. I mean, for me, I don't know, it was kind of maybe the first time I'd watched a match like that where I was like, this is Shakespeare, this is insane. Do you think Seamus is underrated and like kind of underappreciated for the fact that he could do that?

[Megan]

Yeah, you know, I was going to get to this point about Sheamus career, his trajectory so interesting to me. So I remember I was in fcw, it was one of my first few weeks in fcw and Sheamus was just getting called up from FCW to make his run on ecw, where he just ran through the competition, ended Jamie Noble's career. Mind you, this is 16 years ago where he was a terror. And he went on this run immediately to Cena, right after he got off of ecw, went to raw, became world champion, he was skyrocketed and he kind of stayed there for about seven years. He was at the very top. And you know, it's so interesting to me because oftentimes guys like him often just stay at the very top. And I think he had to deal with being dropped down to the mid card after that seven year run of being at the very top of the card. And I think for a lot of guys that's a very difficult thing to handle once you're no longer constantly in world title matches, constantly in Cena matches, wrestling the very best in main events. Now how do you deal with that? And it's so interesting because so many people might have argued that Sheamus was overrated early in his career, but now, to me, it's very difficult to argue that he's not underrated. I think he's severely underrated. We haven't seen him in a world title match in years. We haven't really seen him. I know the last piece, I think for him, he's really wanted that Intercontinental Championship to complete the Grand Slam as champion here in wwe. But man, the last several years we wrestled Sheamus and Cesaro when they were in the bar, and those guys were incredible every single night. And I think Sheamus at This point in his career is really adding a really interesting chapter to his story, to his career, of a guy who was at the very top and didn't get those opportunities. But every single night, he works with a chip on his shoulder. I've been in there with him. He doesn't take a night off. When we were doing five shows a week, every single week, he brought it to you like it was WrestleMania. He's always had that intensity. And I think of a guy who, he dealt with spinal stenosis, I thought, several years ago, I thought his career might be over. I know he's put his body through a lot. He has such a physical style. But, man, when you're in the ring with him, it's hard not to respect the way he brings it. He never coasts, never takes a night off. And I am, you know, I just kind of wanted to take a moment to. To really appreciate this version of Sheamus that we've seen the last several years. He's been very hungry. He's. He's pushing 50. And you couldn't tell by the way he moves, by the way he brings it. Truly an incredible talent, a special talent. I love what he brings to the ring, and I think a guy like Rusev is going to bring the very best out of him. And I can't wait to see what these guys do. I hope this is not even close to the end. I hope we see months and months of this. I don't know what that's going to look like, but again, I truly loved what Sheamus and Rusev brought to the ring tonight. And just what Sheamus has done in the ring the last several years, truly one of our most underrated talent.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. And I think what's interesting about Sheamus, too, and I mean, you're right, I feel like we're finally seeing Rusev kind of hit that potential. Like, what can Rusev do? Well, this. This is what Rusev can do. And I'm 100% with you in the sense that, like, this feels like we're just starting to scratch the surface on this version of Rusev. But I almost go back to, like, we're having the conversation earlier with Charles Robinson, and I think that people forget that when you look at that meme of him running down the aisle at WrestleMania 24, and you compare it with Night of Champions, people don't consider that they're 17 years apart because that meme is so prevalent that it becomes current. I mean, Biggie, you eating popcorn? That's a meme that is forever. But it also. It might as well have happened yesterday, cuz that's how memes work. And I almost feel like with Seamus, because he pretty much looks exactly like he's always looked, right? Which is an accomplishment, like a crazy accomplishment that fans almost take for granted. Like, they don't realize, like, how long and how hard this guy has been going, and he is still able to go that hard. It's like, it's pretty remarkable. It's unbelievable, right?

[Megan]

Yeah, no, it truly is. And he's a guy often think, like, I feel like I saved a lot of my body because oftentimes in the new day, we were oftentimes cutting promos or it was backstage. A lot of that, a lot of shenanigans. But Sheamus has really made his hay and he's made his money not doing that, not talking. It's being in the ring, being physical. And to do what he does every week, every night, to take the toll he's taking. Like you said, he looks incredible. He looks like he did when I first met him 16 years ago. But you're right, it really does take a toll. And time will get us all. Time will get every single one of us. But I just hope we all take a moment to really enjoy this run for Sheamus. Who knows how much longer we have him in the ring. And maybe there's something in the Irish blood, because I remember Finley wrestling in the 50s as well, so there's something there. But those guys, both, both of them very, very physical. I. I love what Sheamus has brought to the ring. And I hope we continue to get a lot more of this. And look, I would have no problem. I. I would co. Sign a Seamus run towards another world title opportunity right now. And I love seeing. I think a couple years ago we got to see him get his. His flowers from the crowd at Clash. People were. I think people are starting. It took a while for people to appreciate what he'd been bringing to the ring, but he. He truly is. When I. When I see a Seamus match on Monday Night Raw, I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited. And now that he's paired with Rusev.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Well, I'm. I'm. I'm. Oh, go ahead, Megan. I didn't mean to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well. Oh, I mean, this is. This is a little bit of a different topic than Seamus, but I had to get your thoughts. What do you think of Gunter and the way that he calls out Bill Goldberg?

[Sam Roberts]

Good question.

[Megan]

I respect what Gunther is doing, man. I think for him, it is about Notches in your belt. It is about beating, you know, look, and to his point, a lot of the highlights we saw from Goldberg when I was a kid, you know, that was, you know, we're talking about 25, 30 years ago. A lot of his best moments that we saw, an incredible package that was from yesteryear. And look, Goldberg's in incredible shape. It's his retirement match, but who knows. But I think this version of Gunther post Jay, you know, we saw some not indifference. We saw a Gunther that didn't quite seem like himself at times. With Jay where he wasn't as, as focused and you know, losing the title at WrestleMania, I don't think we're seeing that version of Gunther anymore. I think he is. He's got a fire under him. I think he's focused. I'm excited because I think those two are going to bring it. I think they are going to wallop each other. But I expect Gunther to be. I think what I really appreciate from Gunther is that at no point when he first came up to the main roster, I didn't see any jitters. I didn't see any fear of anyone of whether it was the very top of the card or the bottom. His focus and his commitment to building a legacy for himself that stands the test of time, I think is really impressive. And he really does treat this as sport, as craft. He's here to be the best. He's not here to be liked. He's not here to make friends. He's not here to yeet. He's not here to have a catchphrase that people shout over and over to have the best selling toy line or merch line. He is truly treating this as a sport and to have to be considered 10, 20, 30 years down the line as one of the best to ever do it. You need a resume. And I think he's in the midst of building a hall of fame worthy resume.

[Sam Roberts]

It is funny though because there is still an innate star power about Gunther. Like he may not be in it for the catchphrases or anything, but let's not pretend, Megan, you saw it. When he came out tonight and his music played, my 8 year old son stood up and put his hands behind his back. He did this is true, did the Gunther pose. So there is something that still resonates. However, E, while we have you here, I do think that it's only fair and I'm glad we've been friendly so far. For you to admit that it looks like you were wrong. You said on a previous episode of Raw recap that you had studied the body of one Chad Gable, and you had studied it. You said you studied it up and you studied it down, and you'd seen it in locker rooms, and you'd seen it in showers, and you knew. You said you knew who Grande Americano was. But tonight I saw Chad Gable in a sling, and he left. And then I saw Grande Americano still ready to compete. I mean, come on. He. Come on.

[Megan]

So you're trying to tell me.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan]

That that was the same person under that mask that we saw a couple weeks ago?

[Sam Roberts]

It was Grand Americano. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, the gym.

[Sam Roberts]

The classic luchador, he was the man.

[Megan]

Under the mask tonight, right. Was noticeably taller, maybe. Maybe five or six inches tall. And I know sometimes tricks on you, but I looked. I saw how he stood tall in reference to the other members of the faction.

[Sam Roberts]

And.

[Megan]

And look, that's. That's not the same person.

[Sam Roberts]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. I was a tall girl backstage once, and they. They can do some things with those cameras, so I wouldn't be so sure.

[Megan]

The cameras. But talent doesn't just suddenly appear to be 6 inches tall, taller than they were the week before. That's not how that works, Sam.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know. Tom Anifin used to. But that was a deep split, okay? He was.

[Megan]

He wasn't a comically deep split. This is not that. This is not at all that.

[Sam Roberts]

No, listen, you're kind of coming across like a conspiracy guy right now. I just want to tell you, you.

[Megan]

Are what Gaslight me. I know what I saw with my own two eyes. That is not the same man. Also, I was looking for. On. On his back, I believe there's a USA Wrestling tattoo that Chad Gable also shares that I've noticed on El Grande Americano. And when this man walked out today, he did not have that tattoo, sir.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Huh.

[Sam Roberts]

That's weird. I mean, that's. I didn't notice that either. I've never noticed it today. Well, I mean, whatever. Whatever. I mean. Okay. Okay. I guess you're right. I guess.

[Megan]

How dare you.

[Sam Roberts]

Listen, Biggie, we appreciate you, man. Thank you for coming back on the Raw recap. And hopefully we'll get to hear from you again, especially when we see, you know, Grande Americano continue to thrive.

[Megan]

Look, look, if I'm proven wrong and there's evidence that I'm wrong, I will come on this podcast and I will apologize to you, Sam.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay?

[Megan]

But until that day, I hold fast to my opinion.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay?

[Megan]

That ain't. That ain't the same man. But thank you.

[Sam Roberts]

If you say so. Thank you, Biggie. You are the best. So much to unpack tonight, but so much going forward. Of course, we've got Evolution coming up. We've got Saturday night's main event coming up that we've got matches announced now for both of them. But before we get to those two shows, I think if I'm not mistaken, we've only got one more Raw before Evolution and Saturday night's main event. Is that right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think that's right.

[Sam Roberts]

What a wild time. We will be back here next week to recap Raw before we're watching Saturday night's main event, before we're watching Evolution, make sure that you are subscribed across all audio platforms. Apple, Spotify, everywhere else. If you're watching on YouTube, make sure you're hitting like leaving comments. We appreciate it all and we appreciate you watching and listening to Raw recap, which is a WWE and Fanatics original production with a five dollar meal deal with new McValue. You pick a McDouble or a McChicken then get a small fry, a small drink and a four piece McNuggets. That's a lot of McDonald's for not a lot of money. Prices of Participation may vary. McDouble meal, $6 in some markets for a limited time only.