One final night at MSG for John Cena: Raw Recap, Nov. 17, 2025

Summary

Raw Recap with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant — Nov. 17, 2025: One Final Night at MSG for John Cena

Overview

On this episode of Raw Recap, hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant deliver an energetic, ringside breakdown of an all-time Monday Night Raw emanating from Madison Square Garden. The show is headlined by John Cena's farewell performance in WWE’s most iconic venue and features blockbuster moments—Roman Reigns’ and Brock Lesnar’s surprise returns, the shocking crowning of Maxine Dupree as the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and the electric presence of top celebrities. The episode features live interviews with John Cena and Maxine Dupree, and plenty of behind-the-scenes flavor, offering a true backstage pass on a historic night for WWE.

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Key Discussions and Segments

1. Star-Studded Atmosphere at MSG

Theme: Madison Square Garden delivered a truly stacked night, packed with wrestling icons and A-list celebrities.

• Both hosts are awed by the volume of stars present—not just in the ring, but in the crowd and backstage.
  • “All the stars were out and for good reason tonight.” – Megan (02:06)
• Notables: Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Andrew Schulz, Eric Andre, Pete Davidson, John Cena, and more.

Memorable Moment: Megan’s story of being snubbed by Pete Davidson, which Sam tries to downplay.
- “I go out to shake a hand and completely got blown off.” – Megan (02:54)

2. The Shock Returns: Roman Reigns & Brock Lesnar

Theme: WWE’s biggest names made dramatic entrances, shaking up the War Games narrative.

• Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar both made unannounced comebacks, creating seismic shifts in the roster landscape.
  • “When that music hits and we're like, oh, my God, everything changes… you feel somehow like the landscape has completely shifted.” – Host (06:44)
• Paul Heyman’s manipulation, reuniting with Lesnar, sets the stage for a new era of chaos.
  • “Part of you just goes, ‘Oh my, he's just the greatest…’ and the other part of you is checking to see if your wallet is still there.” – Host (05:43)

Big Spot: Lesnar immediately goes after CM Punk and the World Heavyweight Champion, cementing his devastating impact.

Notable Quotes

• “He Superman punched Brock Lesnar out of his boots.” – Host (10:21)
• “When Roman Reigns gets into a ring, that ring is his.” – Host (11:30)

3. Deep Dive: The War Games Roster — Tension and Alliances

Theme: The complexity of the War Games teams, built on past feuds and unresolved drama.

• Roman Reigns joins a team with former rivals—CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and the Usos—introducing friction.
  • “CM Punk on the team last year…It was tense.” – Megan (14:05)
  • Mattel's action figures even include the “iconically tense” facial expressions from last year’s War Games.
• The internal Bloodline dynamic, especially between Roman, Jey, and Jimmy Uso, remains fraught.
• Drew McIntyre brings symbolic gear (“flu game Jordans”), reflecting personal vendettas against the Bloodline.
  • “Everything starts at the sneakers.” – Host (18:21)

4. John Cena’s Last MSG Raw — Live Interview (20:00–38:58)

Theme: Cena reflects on his legacy, authenticity, and getting to retire on his own (not entirely voluntary) terms.

Highlights from the John Cena Interview

• Cena emphasizes the history of MSG, advocating that every WWE superstar must respect the Garden’s legacy.
  • “If you are allowed to perform here, you are a professional.” – John Cena (21:03)
• On retiring and being self-reflective:
  • “I don't want to get lost in my own sauce. I want to keep my feet on the ground. There’s 16,000 people here tonight—I want to make sure they’re happy...” – Cena (22:52)
• Importance of authenticity, worn through his iconic jorts:
  • “It’s okay to be authentic. [The jorts] are me. … The jorts now are in whatever perspective they're in because I just wouldn't give up on wearing them.” – Cena (24:44)
• On finally winning the Intercontinental title:
  • “How about that accolade right at the end, still making history.” – Megan (27:21)
  • “He reminds me a lot of me and he reminds me a lot of the mistakes I made.” – Cena on Dominic Mysterio (27:42)
• Why he’s committed to finishing with dignity:
  • “When I got a step slower, I got to walk away... I could probably squeeze out more matches, but at what cost?” – Cena (33:01)
• Cena’s pride in elevating new stars and his desire for the audience to celebrate the future of WWE as much as his own finale:
  • "We're all just kind of closing a chapter of an era... and I want people to be able to look forward to what's next." (35:43)

Memorable Quotes

• “I want to do this for infinity, but I can’t.” – John Cena (33:10)
• “You can never master sports entertainment. You can never master WWE. There's always something to learn.” – Cena (29:42)

See: John Cena Interview Segment (20:00–38:58)

5. John Cena’s MSG Segment and Fallout

• Crowd goes wild. Dominic Mysterio interrupts, seeking heat.
  • “John Cena is literally on his last Monday Night Raw and Dom's like, now's a good time for me to go out there.” – Host (42:39)
• A rematch tease—Dominic challenges, but stalls for Survivor Series. Promises emotional stakes in San Diego.

Six-Man Tag Spectacle

• John Cena, Sheamus, and Rey Mysterio vs. Judgment Day (Dom, JD, Finn)
  • “This is one of the funnest six-man tags ever. Like, everybody just doing their stuff and enjoying the moment.” – Host (47:28)
• Mysterio’s agelessness awes the hosts:
  • “There is nobody that better exemplifies [Benjamin Button] than Rey Mysterio.” – Host (48:39)

6. Tournament Matches & Returns: Gunther and Dolph Ziggler

Theme: Old faces return and new stars emerge in the tournament to face Cena in his last match.

• Gunther returns with a classic, no-nonsense persona, defeating upstart Je’Von Evans.
  • “Gunther may be the greatest no fun wrestler of all time.” – Host (50:00)
• Dolph Ziggler returns as a surprise opponent for Solo Sikoa, rekindling nostalgia.
  • “It was absolutely awesome. … Really cool to see Dolph Ziggler again.” – Host (51:40)

7. Maxine Dupree: From Underdog to Women’s Intercontinental Champion

Theme: Emotional triumph, self-belief, and the magic of seizing a moment.

• Maxine Dupree stuns Becky Lynch after help from AJ Lee, in a career-defining upset.
• Raw Recap hosts interview an overjoyed Maxine about her journey, learning in the “dungeon” with Natty, and vision boarding her destiny.

Maxine Dupree Interview Highlights (53:07–72:22)

• “Please say it one more time: your new Women's Intercontinental Champion, Maxine Dupree.” – Maxine (53:50)
• On achieving her vision:
  • “I dream big. I don’t think they’re really going to happen. I just lie to you and say I’m going to achieve this.” – Maxine (55:26)
• A love letter to MSG and family:
  • “I cannot believe that my mom, my dad, and my fiance were all here to see it happen. … If nothing good happens after this, I’m okay.” – Maxine (55:14)
• On Becky Lynch:
  • “If you want to be the best, you got to beat the best. And, baby, I beat the best.” – Maxine (63:09)
• On her late grandfather, a lifelong wrestling fan:
  • “I just know he was kicking his feet, that his granddaughter, like, made it, you know.” – Maxine (61:55)
• On AJ Lee’s support:
  • “If you use a candle to light another candle, the other one doesn’t lose its flame. There is room for both of us to shine in that moment, and I think we proved that tonight.” – Maxine (60:28)

Notable Quotes

• “I want to be undeniable.” – Maxine (59:48)
• “Tonight was truly the best night of my life… this is, truly, step one of 100.” – Maxine (59:07)

See: Maxine Dupree Interview Segment (53:07–72:22)

8. AJ Lee’s Shocking Return

Theme: A returning legend stirs the women’s division, especially Becky Lynch.

• AJ Lee’s presence and signature skip needle Becky Lynch, causing distraction and ultimately helping Maxine.
• “When she skips and she's got that look on her face. It is this weird control that she knows that she has over whatever situation.” – Host (76:11)
• Teases abound about AJ Lee joining War Games and an alliance with Rhea Ripley.

9. Women’s War Games — Who’s In?

• Charlotte’s loyalty to Alexa Bliss vs. her suspicion of Rhea Ripley.
• Speculation about AJ Lee’s and Charlotte Flair’s participation.
• “There is so much happening right now, and that's why we need to be here to recap it.” – Host (77:51)

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Timestamps for Main Segments

• Star-Studded Night begins: 02:06
• Brock Lesnar/Roman Reigns Returns: 04:06 – 13:47
• War Games Team tension & breakdown: 13:47 – 19:59
• John Cena full interview: 20:00 – 38:58
• Raw reactions, Cena segment, six-man tag: 41:59 – 49:45
• Gunther & Tournament Matches: 49:45 – 52:09
• Maxine Dupree full interview: 53:07 – 72:22
• AJ Lee Return & Women’s Division: 74:47 – 77:51

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Notable Quotes

• Sam Roberts (on the War Games chaos):

  “When that music hits and we're like, oh, my God, everything changes… you feel somehow like the landscape has completely shifted.” (06:44)

• John Cena (on retirement):

  “I want to do this for infinity, but I can't... I made a promise to the fanbase—when I got a step slower, I got to walk away.” (33:10)

• Maxine Dupree (on her journey):

  “This is, truly, step one of 100. I'm so happy, but, like, this is not… I'm gonna celebrate tonight. And then we're back. We're back to training.” (59:07)

• Sam Roberts (on NYC fans):

  “We can be a fickle bunch, but when they realized they’d been a part of this moment… the fans were like, this is what we wanted.” (56:02)

• AJ Lee’s impact:

  “She’s careless, and everybody else is enraged.” – Megan (76:19)

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Episode Tone & Style

• High-energy, irreverent, deeply “inside baseball” wrestling banter.
• Candid, often humorous exchanges with plenty of passion for both the business and its personalities.
• Insightful reflection on wrestling history and legacy, especially during extended interviews.

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Summary Takeaways

• This episode marks the intersection of WWE tradition and the evolving new era: John Cena’s heartfelt sendoff at MSG; Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar reshaping main event storylines; and Maxine Dupree’s fairy-tale title win, signifying the rise of new talent.
• The atmosphere was electric, the matches legacy-defining, and every returning or debuting Superstar felt consequential.
• Raw Recap—through its exclusive interviews (especially with Cena and Maxine)—captured not just the results, but the emotional gravity of one of WWE’s most memorable Monday Night Raws.

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For fans and non-listeners alike, this episode is a must for understanding wrestling’s intersection of nostalgia, transition, and star-making, all filtered through the joyful, knowledgeable gaze of Sam and Megan.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Megan]

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[Host/Analyst]

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[Host/Analyst]

Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar just showed up in Madison Square Garden. John Cena says goodbye to Monday Night raw. Maxine Dupree, the new Women's Intercontinental Champion is on the show. John Cena is on the show. This is the Raw recap of WWE and Fanatics original production. Oh my God, Megan. I don't even know where to begin. First of all, John Cena is going to be on this show. Maxine Dupree, the new Intercontinental Champion is going to be on this show. We have feelings.

[Megan]

Yeah. This was an all time Monday Night Raw in the world's most famous arena. All the stars were out and for good reason tonight.

[Host/Analyst]

And more stars than I realized were out. Giant stars, physically enormous stars that were specifically named Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. I mean this and you're right. Celebrities all over the place. Andrew Schultz got into a fight with J.D. mcD. It was an INS. Eric Andre was in the crowd. I so many fun celebrities in the crowd.

[Megan]

All of the stars know you, by the way.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, I don't know.

[Megan]

I mean we were walking backstage. Sam, what's up?

[Maxine Dupree]

What's up?

[Megan]

I saw Pete Davidson backstage. He's like hey Sam, what's going on? And then of course I'm beside you because we travel to pack and we're homies like that. I say hi and go out to shake a hand and completely got blown off. And thankfully you were one of the only people who saw.

[Host/Analyst]

I wasn't going to mention it. It was not, by the way, Pete didn't see you. I think it wasn't intentional.

[Megan]

It was been a rough night for multiple reasons.

[Host/Analyst]

A rough night. Yeah. You got unfortunately accidentally blown off. Your favorite wrestler lost the Intercontinental Championship. Something which I hope you now can maybe have a little bit of empathy.

[Megan]

We'll get to that for me, we'll get to that.

[Host/Analyst]

But all is right with the world because the tribal chief is back. Celebrity. You know what? They were all there. To every celebrity you could ever imagine, they were all there. They weren't there to say hi to the last professional broadcaster. They weren't there to hobnob amongst each other, to say hello to the executives from Netflix and ESPN and Peacock and wwe. No, they were all there to witness the absolute and utter aura of the tribal chief, Roman Reigns. How dare Paul Heyman say that he had assembled the best War Games team in his entire career.

[Megan]

Oh, and he was so confident about it backstage with Nick Aldis and Adam Pierce, looking at all of the historic signs and pictures posted on the walls backstage in the bowels of Madison Square Garden. And Paul Heyman had a smirk on his face, knowing exactly which trick was up his sleeve. And that trick happened to be Brock Lesnar.

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, so you always know when things are possibilities. Right? You know, the Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman have always had a relationship. You know that there is something to the rekindling of that relationship in the sense that at Russell Palooza, we got that ring introduction.

[Megan]

And the night before Russell Palooza, there was on smackdown a backstage interaction where Brock said to Paul Heyman, we should talk.

[Host/Analyst]

That's right. So we have our War Games. Kind of just a stare down just to kind of, you know, get everybody. Like you could have just said, we're going to have a fight. You know what I mean? Like, there was no way that that wasn't coming to blows. But a lot of interesting things happened in that. In that in the very beginning of the segment. First of all, the Vision comes out as a unit and Logan Paul was part of that unit. Logan Paul entered with matching colors and at the same time as Paul Heyman, Braun Breaker and Bronson Reed.

[Megan]

And I gotta say, didn't it sort of feel right?

[Host/Analyst]

Yes.

[Megan]

I mean, seeing Logan Paul standing next to Paul Heyman almost just made sense. And I thought to myself, why hadn't they been working together for longer?

[Host/Analyst]

It was that part. It was that thing of like with Paul Heyman where part of you just, like, goes like, oh, my, he's just the greatest. He's the best. He's amazing. And then the other part of you is kind of a little sick and is checking to see if your wallet is still there. That's the part that Paul Heymon and Logan Paul have in common, and that's the like. And I feel like those evil forces are only brought to life when they're together. But. But I, I mean, I agree with you. I. I'm sitting there looking at the Vision going, this is kind of what the Vision was always going to be. But they come together and Drew McIntyre comes out separately, but still is on Team Vision, you know what I mean? And then, of course, you got CM Punk, you have Cody Rhodes, you have the Usos. These guys start going at it, and all of a sudden that music is.

[Megan]

Everybody's in trouble when that music hits.

[Host/Analyst]

And I mean, you also. There's just something about. You talk about aura, you talk about all. You talk about moments. There's just something about sitting in Madison Square Garden or any. I mean, the same thing. We were there when it happened in, in Giant Stadium, in MetLife Stadium when that music hits and we're like, oh, my God, everything changes. You're like, like, it's not just, oh, this is a moment we'll remember. You feel somehow like the landscape has completely shifted. And you had that same feeling again tonight when Brock Lesnar shows up and walks out there and you realize that Brock Lesnar is. Because Paul Heyman was saying it. Wait till you see who else I've got. Wait till you see who. If you were upset about Drew McIntyre, wait to see who the next guy is. And it's Brock Lesnar. And we go, you know, he's coming to the ring, he's cleaning house. He goes for CM Punk right away, which is interesting because you have two Paul Heyman guys, you know, tearing each other up. Brock was doing a lot of the tearing. Unfortunately for CM Punk, he's also going right after the World Heavyweight Champion, which is probably not an accident if you're Brock Lesnar and you're sitting there going, now, at this point, not only does the Visions team have this insane numbers advantage, but you can multiply that by a million because Brock Lesnar is the fifth member of the team.

[Megan]

And then a very important note. The credits go up on Monday Night Raw and you think, oh, my Gosh, CM Punk's War Games team is completely screwed. This is the end of Monday Night Raw.

[Host/Analyst]

By the way, has there ever been a time where a false copyright logo hasn't been the greatest thing ever? Has there been. Has there been one fake copyright logo and credits when it hasn't been awesome?

[Megan]

No, it's. It's always the best.

[Host/Analyst]

It's always the best.

[Megan]

And I mean it. Even just any Monday night, you always have to wait a couple extra beats.

[Host/Analyst]

You always. Yeah, that's right.

[Megan]

A couple extra until it's like completely over and then you know.

[Host/Analyst]

Right. I loved this one because it wasn't a visual, it was an audio. You're just like, he's here, he's here, he's here, he's here. And he was there. And Roman Reigns comes out. And I can tell Roman is confident because remember before when Bronson Reed was stealing his shoes and we were like, well, they're not even the best Roman Reigns shoes. He came out in these Travis Scott lows and like nobody can get these. Okay, I'm trying. I'm putting my name in, I'm putting my email in. I'm not getting any emails back. I can't get them.

[Megan]

I thought Roman looked confident. I mean, just from one look at him, I didn't even take note of the shoes.

[Host/Analyst]

Oh, the shoes tell the story.

[Maxine Dupree]

Okay.

[Megan]

Oh, especially now for this.

[Host/Analyst]

Yes, the shoes tell the, the story. He ain't faking is what I'm saying. And he's got the new tribal chief T shirt. So I know I got to go on fanatics and get it. And he comes to the ring and it's just like. And I, I, I feel like this is that Roman that I've been waiting for. I've been waiting for a Roman who is not there to like set his family straight, who is not there, who is just simply there with the, with the, with the ferocity.

[Megan]

Yeah, that's a good point there. This has nothing to do with family right now.

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, theoretically, I mean, he's on.

[Megan]

A team with family members with mus. But tonight really didn't have much at all to do with family.

[Host/Analyst]

No, he was out there to prove well. And I, I think that ultimately Brock Lesnar showed up to be like, hey, I'm. I'm the top.

[Megan]

I'm the game changer.

[Host/Analyst]

I'm the game changer. And Roman went, no. Uhuh.

[Megan]

He said bet.

[Host/Analyst]

Right, Right. That's exactly what he said. And I mean, you are so used to seeing what you saw with CM Punk. Brock comes in and no matter what you do, you're getting suplexed whether you're John Cena, who will be on the show later on, whether you're John Cena, whether you're CM Punk, whether you're Cody Rhodes. It's like you get in there with Brock Lesnar and he's going to treat you like a rag doll. And Roman Reigns was unaffected by any of it. Roman Reigns had his chin sticking straight out like he was John Taffer going into a dive bar. He couldn't have been more confident in the fact that he knew how to handle business. And I mean, he. Superman punched Brock Lesnar out of his boots. Brock Lesnar got sent flying out of that ring, that Superman punch. And it was like that. That's the game changer. That's the difference maker.

[Megan]

So can't get over the bar rescue reference.

[Host/Analyst]

I'm just saying, you know, it's a good one. Who do you think you are coming in my ring?

[Maxine Dupree]

You know, exactly.

[Host/Analyst]

Did you get that money from your mother? How would she feel? But I be, I, but I, I, I, I'm going off on a tangent here. Listen, it's the same spirit. There's no moving John Taffer when he gets in there, and there's no moving Roman Reigns when he gets in there. When Jon Taffer goes into a bar, they that bar is his. When Roman Reigns gets into a ring, that ring is his.

[Megan]

But the tribal thief did try to make a statement once again tonight. He tried to and then got speared.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, I mean, bro, not only did he get speared, so he did, he put, he put, he put the boots to Roman Reigns. And listen, there's a, a small handful of people who have pinned Roman Reigns since he, you know, since this era of Roman Reigns, since we've seen this tribal chief, Roman Reigns, there's a very small handful of people who've done it. Bronson Reed is not only one of them, he's the last one that did it. So there ain't no taking that away from him.

[Megan]

And there's an even smaller group of people have put Roman Reigns on a.

[Host/Analyst]

Stretcher and Bronson Reed has done that too. Yeah, that's 100% right. That's a great point. But again, this is a different Roman Reigns. I think Roman Reigns is done playing games. I think Roman Reigns is, is, is. I think feeling like people have forgotten who he is. Right. I think this whole year. Right. You know, in the very beginning, it looks strong. From the minute Roman Reigns got eliminated from the Royal Rumble, it's like, it hasn't been the way it should be for Roman Reigns. Right? Roman Reigns starts this year by beating Solo Sikoa by becoming the tribal chief. Fantastic, right? No doubt about it. Now and then it's a simple mission. Go to the Royal Rumble, win, get my title back at WrestleMania. He goes to the Royal Rumble, he loses. He goes to WrestleMania, he loses. And it's all because he's trusting these people around him. He finally centers himself. He teams with his. With his cousin Jay USO at SummerSlam. Jay's the one who gets the pin, by the way. And then after that, Roman is either being put on a stretcher by Brunson Reed or being pinned by Bronson Reed. And I think it's like, okay, it's enough. It's enough of this. It's time to remind people of who the guy was that held that title for over a thousand days, that held. That controlled the WWE for four years in a manner that nobody ever has now.

[Megan]

It is very, very interesting when you look at this War Games team that Roman Reigns has joined.

[Host/Analyst]

Theoretically, I would imagine. Yeah. I mean, it's.

[Megan]

I mean, listen, there's no graphic yet that I've seen.

[Host/Analyst]

I haven't seen it yet.

[Megan]

But. But we think.

[Host/Analyst]

But we've been doing this podcast.

[Megan]

Yes, right. It's very interesting when you think about the people who are also on this team.

[Host/Analyst]

Right.

[Megan]

CM Punk on the team last year. You remember War Games? That was. That was the favor.

[Host/Analyst]

It was tense.

[Megan]

It was very tense. I mean, remember the clip? I think. I mean, millions and millions of views on social media of Roman putting his arm in front of CM Punk.

[Host/Analyst]

Let me tell you something. It was so iconically tense, I don't even know. This is not a commercial. I just think it's fascinating. Mattel just put out CM Punk and Roman Reigns action figures, and they come with heads that mimic the expressions that the two of them had when they were in the shark cage together, refusing to look at each other. That's the level of iconically tense those two were. And it's gotten much worse since then. Yes, much worse.

[Megan]

We really haven't seen them interact since WrestleMania.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, no. There was one interaction when Roman came out and he helped up Jay and he did not help out CM Punk. And then there was a reference to CM Punk after that when he looked at Paul Heyman. And shockingly to me, he made reference to the fact that Paul Heyman turned on him by siding with CM Punk. He didn't say Seth. He said Punk And I went, oh, that's the category that CM Punk is in. But go on. Okay, so that's punk. Talk about who else is on this team. Cody Rhodes, you're in my way in life. Let's not pretend that never happened.

[Megan]

Ooh, the Georgia Tech scene.

[Host/Analyst]

Let's not pretend we didn't go to Georgia Tech. No, no, no. You're in my way in life. That scene has never escaped my head since it happened. Every day I wake up thinking about that scene. You're right. What about who else is on that team?

[Megan]

We have the USO brothers.

[Host/Analyst]

Yes, Right.

[Megan]

How would things have been in Jey Uso's head? A little bit. Jey Uso's been listening to a lot of people, and Roman's been the one who's telling him, like, hey, it's the top of the hour. You want to be in the main event, you want to be World Heavyweight Champion? Why are you back here? But we've also seen Jay get called Little Roman.

[Host/Analyst]

Jay only started helping Punk when he said, I'm done listening to people. And that could reflect on Roman. How have Jimmy and Roman been? I would say not great.

[Megan]

No.

[Host/Analyst]

I would say be getting along kind of poorly. All the looks that Roman has been giving Jimmy, let's not pretend it wasn't that long ago that Roman was having conversations with Jimmy saying, and what's so bad if he was like me? You don't think I hear everything? You don't think I see everything? But I don't know, maybe Roman's hatred for Paul Heyman, hatred for the Vision, maybe it trumps all of that. Maybe this is a more focused Roman. Maybe Roman realizes, look, I interviewed Roman Reigns in January right before the Royal Rumble, and he was talking about how. And this is very real life conversation. But I think it relates to the character that we see on television as well. I think it's kind of. I think that line has been very well blurred. But my question to him was, when you're at home for long periods of time, do you watch the show going, I wish I was there. And he said, absolutely not. He said, it's never happened. He goes, this is too. Because I've got this all figured out too. Well, I have all these systems in place. He said, I study CEOs, I study these billionaires, and they have systems in place so they're not going to fail. I wonder if Roman Reigns didn't go back and say, you know what? Maybe I took my eye off the ball and he's restructured and Redefined those systems that don't include the wise man anymore. Because, I mean, the level of confidence that he had going in was like, I know something you don't know and everybody's in a lot of trouble.

[Megan]

Well, you would think there'd have to be a lot of restructuring after you lose someone like the wise man. And really the entire bloodline.

[Host/Analyst]

Yes.

[Megan]

Is not the bloodline anymore. But then on the other side of War Games, you have Drew McIntyre, who has made it very clear that the bloodline has ruined his life.

[Host/Analyst]

And by the way, not for nothing, everything counts. As you know, that's the school of thought that I come from. Drew McIntyre was wearing all black, except I saw him. He was walking around in some flu game. Jordans. You know what color those flu games you got? I told you, everything starts at the sneakers. You know what color those flu games are?

[Megan]

If I had to guess, I'd say red.

[Host/Analyst]

Black and red. Black and red. Why is Drew McIntyre wearing black and red on his feet? I don't think it's because he's trying to join the bloodline. I think it's because he's trying to use the bloodline's own colors to kick their heads through tables the way he did to Cody rhodes.

[Megan]

And Drew McIntyre is a big thinker, so it's not by mistake.

[Host/Analyst]

He doesn't do anything.

[Megan]

Red and black.

[Host/Analyst]

He doesn't do anything by mistake.

[Megan]

But, Megan, knowing Drew McIntyre, red and black probably haunts him, right? He sees red and black and he starts foaming at the mouth.

[Host/Analyst]

Maybe he wants to. Maybe that's how he wants to go into the War Games. Maybe he's a. Maybe he's a more. We're talking about how dangerous Roman is, how dangerous Brock is. Maybe there's a more dangerous Scotsman that we haven't been bringing up enough. I mean, I could talk about war games all night long, but this is such a terrifically special show because not only did we have Brock Lesnar coming back, Roman Reigns coming back, but we celebrated the last Monday night Raw of John Cena, the last time John Cena will be in Madison Square Garden as a performer. And what we were able to do earlier today, just a couple hours before Ross started, was sit down and talk to John Cena. And we were informed, too. This is, to my knowledge, the last John Cena interview that will ever happen while he's wearing jorts, which. That's huge. That's. And that's a feather. That's a feather in our cap. And I will. I will take that with me. But I wanted to share that with you guys. Our conversation here on Raw recap with the goat, John Cena. Well, let's.

[John Cena]

What have I done?

[Host/Analyst]

Let's welcome.

[John Cena]

I see them pointing, talking. What have I done?

[Host/Analyst]

That means you're on.

[John Cena]

Oh, no. Can we do this? We're live.

[Host/Analyst]

We're live, pal.

[John Cena]

We're live, pal. All right, let's do it.

[Host/Analyst]

Welcome to RAW recap. John, Here we are.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

What an amazing thing this is for us. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you. We are in the back rooms of Madison Square Garden.

[John Cena]

Freezing, right?

[Megan]

Yes, it's quite cold.

[Host/Analyst]

Should you wear your denim for, for John Cena?

[Megan]

Well, now you, now you pointed it out.

[John Cena]

Yeah, you absolutely did. Conscious choice. Appreciate you.

[Host/Analyst]

That is amazing. Well, John, I mean, this building must mean so much to you. This show must mean so much to you. I mean, we are, you know, recording this four hours before the show goes on the air.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

Are you processing yet that you're about to wrestle in Madison Square Garden?

[John Cena]

Did you give me assets? We just talked about this. Stephanie McMahon's over there in the clouds somewhere. We just had a off camera talk about all this. So, so what I'm, what I'm hearing from that is the building is very important.

[Host/Analyst]

Right.

[John Cena]

The show is very important. Right, Right. So a lot of times I like to lens out. I think, I think the significance of this building should never be lost on sports entertainment. I know that there are events that are bigger and bolder and can fit more people, but I believe we can learn a lot from history and I think that every person in WWE should, should understand the history of, of this place. And that way when they're awarded the opportunity to stand on the canvas, it shouldn't, this building shouldn't just mean something to me. And over the years I've, I've seen the importance kind of erode away and I think it's got a resurgence now. And I'm very, I'm very. That makes me feel good because this is, this is a place where, if you, if you are allowed to perform here, you are a professional.

[Host/Analyst]

You're. A lot of, a lot of times when I hear you talking about stuff like this, it's from that bigger picture perspective. When we've spoken before. I think that's the perspective that you keep most of the time when you're doing this retirement tour. Because when I think of you associated with Madison Square Garden, I think about the Royal Rumble, I think about the Survivor Series tagging with the Rock. I Think about all these things that you did in Madison Square Garden. And I wonder if you've gotten to the point in this retirement tour where you are being self reflective, thinking about your moments in these buildings, thinking about the fact that you, as the kid who grew up as a wrestling fan who got to do this thing at the highest level and, and now embraces the title of greatest of all time, that that's what's being celebrated, is what, what you've done.

[John Cena]

So thank you for the kind words. If you're asking if I'm in a reflective state, I'm. I'm ready to have a great show. And I don't. I don't want to be in any other position because I don't. I don't want to get. I want to keep my feet on the ground. I don't want to get lost in my own sauce. I want to be able to. There's. There's 16, 000 people that are going to be here tonight. I want to make sure they're happy and, and if I'm the reason they showed up, boy, if I'm in a mind state other than that, we could, we could wind up with them feeling not so happy. So I'll have plenty of time. I already told Steph we'll talk later on. We'll probably do another Raw recap.

[Host/Analyst]

Jorts lists, unfortunately for us.

[John Cena]

But unfortunately, I love the jorts. Thanks, man. I love them, too.

[Host/Analyst]

So I was actually having this conversation on one.

[Narrator/Announcer]

On.

[Host/Analyst]

On one of my shows about the.

[John Cena]

Transition because I get to duck the question. Love it. Yes, please.

[Host/Analyst]

About the jorts. Okay. And I came to this realization today that I don't think in the history of wrestling, especially when you started wearing those jorts, that people would realize the significance of them. But I started, you know, the wheel started spinning in my head and I said, you know, when the Undertaker retired, he said, where I draw the line is I won't have the Dead Man Gear anymore. You won't see me in the Dead man gear anymore. And that gear is so iconic to wrestling fans, to wrestling in general. I'll come out on the motorcycle, I'll be the American badass, but I won't wear the Dead man gear. And I just had this like, aha thing that I feel like you may end up in the same position, which in turn then goes to this thing that for a period in your career might have been mocked by some fans. The John Cena jorts, to me, have reached the significance of the Undertaker's Dead Man Gear.

[John Cena]

So I, I appreciate that. A nugget that I appreciate out of that train of thought is the jorts are. Were mocked. I think that's a. My takeaway on that is it's, it's okay to be authentic. They are, they are me. And I'm able to be confident enough in myself to weather the storm of criticism and in many cases harassment and ridicule. As we reflect or as a lot of people are reflecting on these moments, people are bringing up moments that meant a lot of, a lot of positive stuff for me. I have been a very polarizing character in the WWE and that's led to a lot of people's moments. Some of those marquee matches and some of those moments have been very, very polarizing. To be able to wear a uniform that I felt comfortable in, a character I felt comfortable in a lot of that thanks to Steph over there. And not waver when other people wanted to be pleased, not waver from what was, what was in my heart. Because my first run, my first try, I tried to please everyone else and it was inauthentic. And when I got a chance to be a character, the stuff where I wanted to evolve the character, I still maintained my authenticity and I think that's important for any long standing success in here. You do good work, coachable, reliable, and you're invested. And I think the investment is passion. The passion can reflect authenticity. The jorts now are in whatever perspective they're in because I just wouldn't give up on wearing them. I could take their best shot, their biggest ridicule and still put forth great effort, be reliable and do good work while wearing cut off jeans.

[Megan]

There's, there's one place where you're not polarizing whatsoever and that's Boston, Massachusetts where you are True.

[John Cena]

It's not true. Again, we can learn a lot from history. I've had a lot of tough, a lot of tough nights in Boston, Massachusetts. If you want to be more specific. We can say with the data that we have, the, the final Raw, the final show in Boston, the final show in the TD Garden where I was able to defeat Dom Mysterio for the Intercontinental title. They were happy to see me that night, but I, yes, Boston has been a very polarizing crowd for me over the years and it's my own hometown and that's them being their authentic self. It's a tough room. The TV Garden's a tough, tough room to work.

[Megan]

But you weren't polarizing whatsoever last week when you became the Intercontinental champion for the first time in your career.

[John Cena]

I. Yeah, how about that? How about that accolade right at the.

[Megan]

End, still making history.

[John Cena]

Everybody's talking about that IC run Stone Cold had at the end, at the very end, you know, DJ carrying the IC run late in his career. Take her with that late IC run. You know, it's just one of the. How about that, right? Yeah. Here we are. Look at it. There it is.

[Host/Analyst]

You said it was going to be a year of stuff that nobody's ever done before. Nobody has ever won the ice on that way out.

[John Cena]

Just on that way out, you know. But no, that's what, what an awesome opportunity. And I just, I just came from Libert Liverpool, did two days there at a convention over the weekend and so many people again incredibly grateful for, for the ability to get in there with Dom Mysterio, who I respect and admire. He reminds me a lot of me and he reminds me a lot of the mistakes I made. Like I can see all of the mistakes that are about to happen with him and I want to shake him and be like, you're going to do this. But I want him to learn for himself. But he is authentic, he's reliable, he works hard and he's passionate about the business. He'll learn, he'll figure the rest out. But what a chance, you know, in Boston to have a chance at a championship match. And because it's not, it's not what Stone Cold would do. Like, yeah, yeah, I'd like that match. It can be done your own way. There's no right way to be a success in this business. It's just take opportunities as they come and I got a cool opportunity to do something special and man, it was, it, it was a special moment. So thank you for bringing that up.

[Host/Analyst]

It felt like, like it wasn't lost on you from the moment you walked in. Has there been any part on this run? Because sometimes you like, you see that look in your eyes where it appears to me that the realization of well, that was it, that was the last time in Boston kind of sets in. Like you let the crowd react you, you get filled with that and you realize that was it. Especially as you've been having some of the best matches in your career against Cody Rhodes against AJ Styles, against Logan Paul against Sammy. Like these matches have been great to the point where some of us fans are going. I thought he said he couldn't go anymore. I'm pretty sure he can still go. Has there been any thought when you work at the level that you've been working at and you get the reactions now that you're finally getting where you go, man, I wish I wasn't leaving in December.

[John Cena]

No, no.

[Host/Analyst]

Really?

[John Cena]

Yeah. And I think the thing that's helping me push myself across the finish line is like, there is no tomorrow. So I've, I've always given everything I have what I love. Again, you're saying a lot of stuff. So what I love is like, hey, man, as a fan, I think you're having the best matches of your career right now. I have heard that through many phases of my career, I got to switch to the hip hop John Cena and then was put in a lot of matches to quote, unquote, toughen myself up. I heard that then. And then the era of Super Cena happened. And then I got put with opponents who were supposed to be bad guys, but they loved them. The punks giving Bryan Danielson a shot Edge. Hey, you're having some of the best matches of your career right now. Now, fast forward to the United States Open Challenge. Hey, man, you're having some of the best matches of your career right now. And then for you to be able to say that now means a lot because if you know out, you can pontificate of like, you should do X, Y and Z. But I've always wanted to stay curious and I've always wanted to leave the door open for a path of growth. You can never master sports entertainment. You can never master wwe. There's always something to learn. And me, with all this time under tension, I'm still learning and I'm still growing and I'm still trying to perfect my craft and my body is beat up. It takes me a while to warm up for these matches and it takes me a while to cool down and I want to leave giving the audience that shows up being like, but you're doing the best work of your career. That's, I will say that's helping push me across the goal line. That's keeping my mind fresh. I'm also working with talent that I've worked with before that I've had new opponents to work with, so they're bringing new ideas. I'm working with new talent. It, it's, honestly, it's, it's, it's great in that regard that there is, there is that curiosity to still learn. I don't think that'll ever be extinguished. But I do have to listen to my health. And there's not one piece that is like, hey, it should go past December 13th. I know there's a Lot of speculation on them. There was at one point of like, oh, they're just gonna run them through till WrestleMania because that's the end of everyone's story. That's just the end of everyone's story. Because that's the way everybody did it before me. I told, I told everybody 15 months ago that I was gonna do this. I told him I was gonna do a year and I'm gonna do a year and after this it's done. Like, and I don't, I don't say that as a bad thing. I say that as a collective, that I've been allowed to do this for 23 years at a very high output. And to hear the, you're having some of the best matches of your career in the fourth generation of installments that I've heard that it validates that I'm not the only one who's exhausted. Every time I come through the curtain. I think everybody feels emotionally like, man, he gave us all, he gave us all he had. And I think, or at least I hope after the 13th of December, people understand that that's all I'm trying to do is just give it everything I got.

[Host/Analyst]

We gotta. You wanna, yeah.

[Megan]

We've seen a lot of legends in the business, their careers, their in ring careers, and for a variety of different reasons. And not everybody gets to go out on their own terms. You set out 15 months ago to go on this retirement tour and you're going to get to go out on your terms. How important is that to you?

[John Cena]

So I don't wanna. That's a, that's a perspective. I'm not going out on my own terms. If I could do this in infinity, I would do it. This is where I feel the most fluent. This is where I feel safe. This is where I feel at home. Yes, the audience has let me into their living room every week for 23 years, but they've also let me into their lives. And by going across the world and, and doing all these conventions and meeting all these fans one fan at a time, hearing the stories of how me, me playing dress up and living my imagination and living my, you know, my taking opportunities and trying to make it the best I can has affected their life. I want to do this for infinity, but I can't. So I want to make it specific and I'm not going out on my own terms. It is. I made a promise to the fan base when I started that when I got to step slower, I got to walk away. And the sad thing is us as fans see that, but you got so much left. Yeah, I could probably squeeze out more matches, but at what cost? I do harm to myself, I do harm to the product. And you as a fan who's allowed me the opportunity for over two decades to spend time with you, you leave feeling bad or sad. No, I want everyone to be happy and moreover, I want to take the tail end of this thing. And I'm so glad about the tournament and about Saturday night's main event and get everybody to look at the future of the business because I believe that's whatever energy was given to me. The veterans and old timers gave me their energy and equity by, by teaching me and, and, and certainly doing honors. And forever the tradition has been, oh, you, your last match, you kind of go out in your back and you do the honors and that's it. No, I think we can do more. I think we can take the eyes that care about showing up to our show and expose them to the future and what's next. And I love the Time is Now tournament that we have some, some way to earn the chance to be, to qualify as my last opponent. And I really want to take my hats off to Triple H. I called him up, I said, I got an idea. We got to do two hours for the tribute show and if you do a whole John Cena tribute, two things are going to happen. You're either going to do too much or too little. You're never going to please everybody. I would like to propose that we have big name WWE Superstars fighting exhibition matches versus the brightest in nxt. So that way we have a sold out building. Hopefully the world's watching. On Saturday night's main event, I get to wrestle one final time. But in doing that, everyone also gets to look at what to look forward to. I think that's the most important thing. We're just, yes, it's, that's my last match. But it's collectively we're all just kind of closing a chapter of an era in sports entertainment and I want people to be able to look forward to what's next.

[Host/Analyst]

You also got Zack Ryder back on tv, which is a big, it's a big deal.

[John Cena]

People are coming out of the woodwork for the tournaments. Man, I, I was very, very glad to see Zack Ryder come back. Matt is a personal friend of mine. I can speak candidly like that. And I've seen, I've seen his mind grow. You want to talk about always being curious in a quest for growth. The Zack Rider I knew from a long time ago has accrued so much sports entertainment wisdom. And it's amazing when we have interactions. He'll tell me about his journey and be like, this is what you were trying to talk about before, and I wasn't. I wasn't ready to understand it. And I like rooting for people who are humble enough to admit when they're wrong and always want to grow and are doing things for the. For the greater good of the business. Matt's certainly one of those guys, and, man, his. His wife Chelsea is certainly one of those folks who is. Who's takes an opportunity and makes the absolute best out of it. And I was just really. I was really happy to see Zach Rider back.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, John, I can't tell you how much we appreciate you making some time for us. I remember in 2005, watching you show up on the highlight reel with Chris Jericho and appear on Monday Night Raw for the very first time.

[John Cena]

St. Louis jersey, man. I know as a surprise, it was.

[Host/Analyst]

A big one, too.

[John Cena]

Jersey.

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, yes, very large.

[John Cena]

It was. Yes, it was the actual jersey that Moses Malone wore.

[Host/Analyst]

But to be. But to be here and to be a very small part of what is so special for you for wrestling history. It's. It's my pleasure. It's our pleasure. And I just appreciate you making the time to do this, man. Thank you.

[John Cena]

Thanks for the kind words. No part is small, and every part is needed, man. We had a. The director of our show came to thank me. I was like, man, I'm never going to have a moment. You're going to be too busy. I'm like, you always have a moment. We can't do it without you. He's like, no, no, the fans are here for you. Yeah, but without you, we don't have a TV show. You guys allow our consumers to engage after the final bell is rung, after the lights go out. And that engagement helps people get excited about our product, which hopefully leads people into the arena, which makes more stars and keeps the business going. There is. There is no small part. Everybody is. If everybody approaches it with, I'm living my dream and I get to do something cool and be part of something special, man. I'm just. I'm grateful for everybody in front of him being behind the camera and in the arenas, like, without them. Watch those pandemic shows, man. We fought on, but, like, we. We're a lot better with the audience. Yeah. And I guess my point is there. There are no small pieces. We're all doing this together.

[Host/Analyst]

That's why he hugged me at Fanatics fest. Now I know why. Man, that was awesome.

[John Cena]

You guys are such good sports, man. Thank you so much for that. I just. I had already done an entrance. They wanted me to do another one.

[Megan]

Wait, you're thanking him for that? Because he hasn't stopped talking about it made my life.

[John Cena]

I think it made my life, too. Look at that.

[Host/Analyst]

Yes.

[John Cena]

Yes. I was just thinking, like, man, for some reason, my life feels incomplete. I'm gonna dive on Sam. I'm good. I'm good.

[Host/Analyst]

Thank you so much, man.

[John Cena]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I need.

[Host/Analyst]

Crazy. Just a. Just an incredible moment for me, for us, for the show.

[Megan]

Which part? When he said you made his life.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, I mean, that was. I would imagine he was tongue in cheek, but maybe he was telling the truth. I don't know. Just the idea that we got to share that with John Cena was amazing. And I. I think I speak for you when I say we're very, very grateful.

[Megan]

Yes.

[Host/Analyst]

To John Cena for spending that time with us here at Madison Square Garden. And, you know, tonight was a very iconic night, and there's a. There's a way to celebrate that iconography that we see in front of us. I was talking about it before the John Cena interview. That Roman Reigns T shirt, that new tribal chief T shirt that he was wearing when he came out on Monday Night Raw. Well, the original tribal chief is back with a brand new tee and in a hoodie. It is hoodie season. It's autumn. We got a Roman Reigns hoodie as well. Show your loyalty and acknowledge your tribal chief. My tribal chief, our tribal chief, the original tribal chief and the only tribal chief, Roman Reigns. With the latest drops at WWE Shop and fanatics. Also, we're going to get into it. A.J. lee is back. So A.J. lee's got a brand new T shirt. Dolph Ziggler returned on Monday Night Raw. You can get Dolph Ziggler merchandise. Gunther returned on Monday Night Raw. You can get the new Gunther T shirt, which is so incredible. It's black on black. It's like perfect for Gunther. It's amazing. All three of these people have brand new TE's live now on WWE Shop and Fanatics. If you love tonight's returns, go grab the new gear and rep your favorite comeback. And of course, John Cena's final Monday Night Raw. You can celebrate his final Raw with his limited farewell tour NYC collection, available now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. If you've been waiting for one of the John Cena drops to get on board with this is the one Madison Square Garden final Raw. We were just talking to John about how big Raw has been for the career of John Cena. This is the time. Get the new merch at WWE Shop and fanatics and that way your time will be now. Thank you. Thank you. So. So, yeah, I thought. I thought it was a remarkable thing because I have been thinking a lot about how important Monday Night Raw has been in the career of John Cena. You know, when John Cena showed up in 2005 on Monday night Raw on Chris Jericho's highlight reel as the WWE Champion, he had made this kind of amazing three year career on smackdown. And going to Raw was really the beginning of the idea that John Cena was the top guy. Right? It was. That was the beginning of that build. And to see it, just to take that journey all the way, to see it come to a head tonight was. Was an amazing thing for me. We got to be out on the floor to witness all of it. I mean, the place went bonkers when John Cena came out. It was so cool. But pretty quick into that promo, Dominic Mysterio interrupts.

[Megan]

I think you were the only person in Madison Square Garden cheering when Dominic interrupted. I actually have a video of it.

[Host/Analyst]

I'm so excited.

[Megan]

I'm gonna send it.

[Host/Analyst]

You should, you should.

[Megan]

Producers. But, yeah, everybody is booing when Dom's music hit. And you are loud and proud, standing and clapping like the proud father that, you know. Unfortunately, Dominic didn't get to grow up with.

[Host/Analyst]

Unfortunately. That's right. Because Ray took him away from Eddie and, And I mean, because it's just. I just see the, the. The wow. Cojones that one must have to interrupt that. John Cena is literally on his last Monday Night Raw and Dom's like, now's a good time for me to go out there.

[Megan]

Two weeks in a row.

[Host/Analyst]

Two weeks in a row. It's like, I already ruined boss. I'm going to go out. No, no, no. I'm going to make John Cena's last Monday Night Raw and then last appearance at Madison Square Garden about me. And then I thought we were getting a rematch.

[Maxine Dupree]

I did, too.

[Host/Analyst]

Right. Because there's been so much. There have been much wild speculation, I'll say, about who John Cena would be wrestling. I think after Boston, we all assumed we were getting a John Cena match. Wasn't advertised, but we assumed we would.

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

And I mean, one of the things that was up in the air was the idea of, what if there's a Dominic Mysterio rematch. And when Dom came out and demanded it and Cena said yes, I was like, oh, we're getting it. But Dom did the most Dom thing ever, which is, no, no, no, not tonight for these people. But there is I real. When he was saying it and he made the challenge for Survivor Series and John Cena immediately accepted. I was like, yeah, it's going to be really interesting for me to like witness John going into Dominic Mysterio's hometown. Yeah, right. It was a big. In Boston, zero. People were cheering for Dominic Mysterio for any moment of that because Boston is John Cena's town in New York. They booed Dominic Mysterio. But you know, you noticed it because.

[Megan]

I got very happy a little bit when it happened. When we got to the six man tag team match, there were some dirty Dom sing alongs.

[Host/Analyst]

What did it sound like?

[Megan]

Dirty, dirty, dumb. Dirty, dirty Dom. The crowd does want to cheer for Dom.

[Host/Analyst]

He's the best.

[Megan]

But not with Cena. So curious what will happen in San Diego, right?

[Host/Analyst]

Does San Diego embrace Dominic Mysterio the way Boston embraced John Cena? Or is San Diego baseball stadium full of WWE fans realizing, I mean, this is the thing. It's John Cena's last sort of traditional WWE ple. You know, the last, what used to be the old pay per views, it's John Cena's last one. When John Cena started this road, it was like, I don't understand. His WrestleMania's last match is there's. And it's like people finally got what he had said from the very beginning, which is like, this would be my last this, this will be my last this. There's two John Cena matches left. That's it. One of them is the finals of this tournament and one of them is in San Diego. So does San Diego go, this is big for our hometown guy. This is San Diego's greatest wrestling mysterio of all time. Or do they go, oh my God, we're never going to see this again?

[Megan]

I don't know.

[Host/Analyst]

Me neither. Me neither. I really don't know.

[Megan]

And I could see something happen where maybe Dom gets booed during the entrance, but during the match, are we going to get dirty dumb sing sing sing.

[Host/Analyst]

Alongs and imagine what that would sound like in that stadium. It'd sound great, but. So Dom says, no Survivor Series. John Cena challenges him to a non title. He says, find the non title, whatever. You just, I want to fight you. And then the judgment day comes out. Finally, I guess Dominic figured out they didn't come out last week?

[Megan]

No. Maybe him and Finn got together, you know, hashed it out.

[Host/Analyst]

I hope so. Seems like tonight they were on the same page. Yeah, it was such a fun. So JD And Finn balor come out, they beat down John Cena, and then who comes out?

[Megan]

Seamus. I was not expecting that whatsoever.

[Host/Analyst]

Right, well, and, and it was great because Seamus may win the tournament and get a match with John Cena, but should he not? God forbid, should he not? He got that, he got that John Cena moment. You know what I mean? He got that sort of.

[Megan]

And he was on the show and he was talking to us about how important that is.

[Host/Analyst]

That's right. That's right. And then of all people, and like, I'd like to say that Rey Mysterio, legend that he is, came out because he wanted to also be a part of this amazing moment. But I think he's just like came out because he's a bad dad, because he immediately. There's three guys in the ring this crazy. There's three dudes in the ring and Rey Mysterio goes, oh, I know who I'll start punching first. My son. Well, like, that's crazy.

[Megan]

Now, you were sitting behind me, so maybe it was other voices that you were conversing with. But I thought I heard you say, wow, he can really still go, Listen, I thought I heard you say that. I mean, we haven't seen Rey Mysterio wrestle in quite some time because he's had an injury. But I thought it was you that admitted you were in enjoying seeing Rey Mysterio wrestle.

[Host/Analyst]

First of all, that doesn't excuse the fact that he was like, oh, there's three people here. I could choose who to punch. I'll go with my son. Terrible, terrible. Really toxic. But yeah, I mean, the fact is that once they made that a six man tag, I was like, this is one of the funnest six man tags ever. Like, everybody just doing their stuff and enjoying the moment. The bad guys are the bad guys. The good guys are the good guys. We're going to all do Sheamus's move now. We're going to all do Rey Mysterio's move now. We're going to all do John Cena's move. And yet, like, watching Rey Mysterio in the ring, if you can get past the fact that he is like hell bent on beating up his son, is remarkable. It's insane. It's, it's. I mean, I feel like the Benjamin Button thing is thrown around for a lot of People. But there is nobody that better exemplifies that than Rey Mysterio. I mean, I, I watch this guy in 1997 fighting a guy who looked a lot like Dominic Mysterio, named Eddie Guerrero. And the way he moved then is so similar to the way he was moving tonight. I don't move the same way that I moved in 1997 anymore. And I've had zero Lucha Libre matches. Okay. Like, the fact that Ray was going at the level that he was going at, I'm like, there's no like slowing this guy down. There's no stopping him. There's no nothing. It was, he was. It truly was a remarkable showing for Rey Mysterio.

[Megan]

If I told you nothing about tonight, but said you're going to see a match with Sheamus, Rey Mysterio and John Cena all on the same team, what year would you say this is?

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, sometime it's took place within the last two decades. You know what I mean?

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

And all three of them are wrestling at their peak. We had the conversation with John Cena. You know, you're having some of your best matches. Seamus having some of his best match. We had that conversation with him last week. The week before, whenever we talked to Seamus. Rey Mysterio the same way. Just, just awesome, awesome stuff. And then of course, on the Cena related note, two big tournament matches.

[Megan]

I thought that toa mystery opponent.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, I was going to say Javon Evans showed up. Yeah, he was strong. The Garden got behind him. But Gunther may be the greatest no fun wrestler of all time.

[Megan]

Yeah, you were talking about his black on black shirt. Does anything say no fun like just a black on black T shirt?

[Host/Analyst]

This is not a fun T shirt. Like, it's just no fun.

[Megan]

But I did like his, his robe that he wore in the entrance. That was a little fun.

[Host/Analyst]

And by the way, it was classic. No, we saw a different Gunther. I mean, Gunther has gone back to the drawing board. Here is a scary Gunther.

[Maxine Dupree]

Oh, yes.

[Host/Analyst]

This is like Gunther's in his classic trunks that say the ring general on him. Gunther is coming out to his classic theme song. Now there's no. So I don't know if Gunther thought he had drifted too much into the mainstream or what it was. But Gunther has gone back to his roots and that's scary for a lot of people.

[Megan]

I noticed before Gunter had left us for a little while, there was almost a time where he was, he was smirking quite often. I did not see a single smirk on his face.

[Host/Analyst]

Tonight it's done Madison Square Garden showed up and said, you know, it'd be fun if John Evans won. And Gunther goes, oh, that's what would be fun. I'll ruin that. Then I'm a no fun guy. Which. And I. And I think it's great.

[Megan]

Earlier in the show, we were talking about how great it is when something happens after the credits go up.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah.

[Megan]

I think whenever Gunter wins at the end of a show, we're always, like, waiting for something else to happen after the credits, and nothing does.

[Host/Analyst]

Welcome to reality. And then, of course, Solo Sokoa versus a mystery opponent, Dolph Ziggler. I'm here to show the world, I mean, when that music blared out, the reaction that it got, the close calls, I. That it has been really fun seeing Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler get to have one more opportunity in the wwe. I truly hope that it leads to more. It was absolutely awesome. I mean, look, nothing's going to beat that spike. If Solo can get that spike on you, you're going down for it. But, like, yeah, it was really cool to see Dolph Ziggler again.

[Megan]

Yeah, great. I mean, it was one of those things, too. Similar to Friday with Zack Ryder, where these guys have a personal relationship with John Cena.

[Host/Analyst]

These are guys and rivalries.

[Megan]

Exactly. And these are people. When John Cena announced that this tournament was going to take place, people who don't even work here, immediately online, people are speculating. Matt Cardona, Zack Ryder, Dolph Ziggler, like, all of these different names. So the fact that we actually got it in Madison Square Garden. Super special.

[Host/Analyst]

Really cool. Really, really cool. But something else very special happened on Monday Night Raw tonight. Maxine Dupree, one. Bittersweet.

[Megan]

Can you say yes? Bittersweet.

[Host/Analyst]

That's fair, right?

[Megan]

Yeah. I'm very happy for Maxine.

[Host/Analyst]

You love Maxine.

[Megan]

Yes, It's. You know, I. When I started in wwe, she. She started her journey. So really just watching her. Her climb the ladder and become who she is now has been so much fun. No one works harder than Maxine, and she's. She's just. She's a grinder, you know, she's hungry. But Becky is my favorite wrestler, and I really did think she was gonna go. Go on to. To hold the Intercontinental Championship forever.

[Host/Analyst]

You did say that on the Countdown to SummerSlam show, which I thought was very strange. But you meant you believed it.

[Megan]

I mean, if it wasn't for AJ Lee, she. She might have.

[Host/Analyst]

Listen, maybe, maybe not.

[Megan]

We'll never know.

[Host/Analyst]

But A.J. lee came out. Becky lynch lost. The Intercontinental Champion. Maxine Dupree is a title holder in the wwe and her first stop was in this room on the Raw. Recap. Here's Maxine Dupre. We have our next guest here in Madison Square Garden on Raw. Recap. On what I believe is the biggest night in her career. Ladies and gentlemen, your new Women's Intercontinental Champion, Maxine Dupree. How does it sound? How does it sound?

[Maxine Dupree]

Oh, my gosh. Please say it one more time.

[Host/Analyst]

Your new Women's Intercontinental Champion, Maxine Dupree.

[Maxine Dupree]

I've been waiting a long time to hear that, baby.

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, look at. How does it really feel? Have you. Have you sat there and realized I walked in to Madison Square Garden against somebody who many have said is the greatest women's wrestler of all time?

[Megan]

More than many.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Who?

[Megan]

A lot of everyone.

[Host/Analyst]

Sports illustrated, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, ESPN.

[Maxine Dupree]

Did A.J. lee ever say it?

[Host/Analyst]

Well, I don't. We'll get to A.J. lee, but the point is, you walked in there with a goat and you walked out of Madison Square Garden with the Women's Intercontinental Championship. What's happening in your head right now?

[Maxine Dupree]

Well, to be honest with you, this is the first time I've sat down since it happened. So, no, I have not had a chance to sit down yet and really think about this moment. However, in the moment, I was overflowing with emotion. I actually cannot believe that this is on my shoulder. I cannot believe that I beat Becky Lynch. I cannot believe that I just wrestled in Madison Square Garden. I cannot believe that my mom, my dad, and my fiance were all here to see it happen. This is like truly the best day of my life. And if nothing good happens after this, I'm okay.

[Megan]

But you can believe it happened because you told us yourself on the Raw recap show that you put the Intercontinental Championship on your vision board. Is this what you envisioned?

[Maxine Dupree]

Yes, but, like, I dream big. I don't think they're really going to happen. I just lie to you and say I'm going to achieve this.

[Host/Analyst]

It's called manifest.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yes, well, I work hard.

[Megan]

Okay.

[Maxine Dupree]

It's hard. I don't know if I. If I ever thought that it was actually possible, especially to dethrone Becky Lynch. Like, that's, that's someone that's main evented WrestleMania and I'm just a little me. How many matches have I had? If we look up the number, it's like, I want to say we have a guess.

[Host/Analyst]

I don't know. I'd have to go on cage match.

[John Cena]

I Don't.

[Host/Analyst]

I don't.

[Maxine Dupree]

It's 50 or under.

[Host/Analyst]

Wow. Wow. And the.

[Maxine Dupree]

And that's including, like, live events. Like, not, you know.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah. But, like, realistically, too. Something that makes the moment is that the fans in New York, which we can be a fickle bunch, went wild for. You went absolutely wild. When they realized that they'd been a part of this moment, that they had seen this thing that you just beat somebody that was the Intercontinental Champion for a very long time, Becky lynch, the fans were like, this is what we wanted.

[Maxine Dupree]

No, I was really, truthfully, I was scared going into tonight because the New York fans, you know, they love a baddie.

[Host/Analyst]

Oh, yes.

[Maxine Dupree]

They love a bad boy. They love a bad girl. And I, as much as I like to pretend that I am so tough, I'm just a girl chasing her dreams for real. Like, this is just who I am, you know? And so I was nervous if they were gonna wanna see that or not. And I'm not gonna lie to you, at one point they were chanting something, and I thought they were chanting in support of Becky. And then I listened a little closer and I said, ah, yes. New York City. I knew I loved you. We're in this together, baby.

[Megan]

So we know that anytime a WWE Superstar wins a championship, you get the iconic picture. Backstage with Triple H, the point picture. Saw yours already. Really?

[Maxine Dupree]

I haven't seen it yet.

[Megan]

So I was up on Instagram already.

[Maxine Dupree]

Oh, my gosh.

[Megan]

What did that feel like? Knowing that this is someone who took a chance on you. You were very open and honest with everybody about your journey and not having the wrestling experience and putting in the work. But at the end of the day, you know, Triple H, he took a chance on you, and now you are sitting next to him as a champion.

[Maxine Dupree]

I know that's crazy. As I was on the flight here to New York, and the last photo I have with him is from my tryout the day he offered me a contract. And it's a screen grab of the YouTube video that's already made of the tryout. And it's a shaking hands. I have a face mask on because it was during that time. And it's like, I don't even, like, look like myself. My hair is, like, half brown, like, and I'm. I'm like a little twig. I hadn't started eating protein yet, and I was like, wow. Like, then, hopefully the next photo I get with him is in gorilla holding the title.

[Host/Analyst]

Can I show you something?

[Megan]

Yes, please.

[Maxine Dupree]

Oh, my gosh. How is that real?

[John Cena]

It's real.

[Maxine Dupree]

No. Like, so stop. I'm putting it on a T shirt. I'm literally wearing that on a T shirt next week.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah. I mean, you talk about vision boarding and seeing this stuff through. I mean, the fact is, I think fans have watched the Maxine character kind of go through this transition where you, you know, however long ago it was, weren't confident at all in your ability. And I think that. That a funny thing happened where fans started seeing that character but saw the real side of. Of you.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

And I think that the. Something really special happens when wrestling fans realize, like, oh, no, she's working, frankly, harder than she has to to be better than she needs to be, because she gets it, and she wants.

[Maxine Dupree]

But I want to be great. Like, even tonight. Tonight was truly the best night of my life, and I'm going to do my best to not overthink, but there's things in that match that I'm like, no, next time I step in there to defend this title, I have to be even better. This is. To me, this is, like, truly step one, step one of 100. I'm so happy. But, like, this is not. I'm gonna celebrate tonight. And then we're back. We're back to training. Because there's things that still. I want to be great. I don't want to just be good. I don't want to just be like, oh, she got by.

[Megan]

Yay.

[Maxine Dupree]

No, I want to be one of the best. And if I want to be one of the best and I have to keep working, so. And I said that to Hunter tonight. I said, thank you for the opportunity. I know I have. I know I got more to do.

[Host/Analyst]

I got more to do.

[Maxine Dupree]

I know I'll be back training.

[Host/Analyst]

What did he say to you?

[Maxine Dupree]

So we all got more to do. Like, I. I want to be undeniable.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah.

[Maxine Dupree]

And I think I'm on my way there. You know, we're climbing. We're climbing that ladder, but I'm not there yet.

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, this is a pretty good step. Was there any part of you that was concerned AJ Lee coming back to the WWE in Madison Square Garden is a huge deal?

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

The moment that follows that moment is your moment, which means you have to go, like, okay, New York. If you've seen something there, wait till you see this. You have to be that person that follows the A.J. lee moment. And you were.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you. I'm not gonna lie to you, though. I wasn't even thinking about that, because I firmly believe that if you use a candle to light Another candle. The other one doesn't lose its flame.

[Host/Analyst]

That's right.

[Maxine Dupree]

There is room for both of us to shine in that moment, and I think we proved that tonight. Did you hear the crowd when she came out? It was insane. And when Jess, our referee, hit that three count, I literally, I had an out of body experience hearing the crowd roar. Like, I was like, oh, we did it. We did it. And I think tonight, what is, like, really so special for me is one of the large reasons I got into wrestling is my grandpa is a die hard Monday night wrestling fan. His whole life. Took my dad to shows when my dad was a kid, like, truly. And I think I've told this story on podcasts, but, like, when I started watching Total Divas, I didn't even know that I was watching the same product that my grandpa was watching. And it was something we got really close over and a large reason of why I did a tryout. And when I got signed, he was. The first person I called, was my papa. And he sat on the phone, he said, what did your dad say? And I said, I haven't called him yet. I called you first. And he was over the moon. And every Monday or Friday, he would text me and say, what time are you on tonight? And I would tell him, and then he would say, are you wrestling or BSN? And most of the time I was BSing. And so I'd be like, oh, no, just. Just keep watching. And he would tell me all the time, no, you just need to. Just need to suck them, like, in the backstage. I'm working on it. But he passed away last year.

[Megan]

But I just.

[Maxine Dupree]

I know, like, when that pyro hit and I got to hold up this title, like, I just know he was kicking his feet, that his granddaughter, like, made it, you know.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah, I got to do this. And by the way, you're very good at the BSN too.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yes, thank you. I try, you know.

[Megan]

Well, it's so funny. You've talked about this on other podcasts before. And I even remember when I was on the road with Smackdown, it was, you know, one day after a travel day, and you were telling me, like, I want to be on the live events because I want to get reps. And. And so many podcasts you've talked about, like, I'm fighting for this because I just want to get reps, I want to get better. And whether it was wrestling or it was BSing, you were always looking for ways to get reps. Now you're intercontinental champion. You just told us how Hungry you are to do more. But is there a period of time where you'll celebrate this massive accomplishment?

[Maxine Dupree]

You know, it's like 10pm right now, so I think I'll celebrate from like 11 to 12:30. I'll get a little sleep, and I gotta go back to work next week. I gotta be training next week because I don't know what's. What Adam Pierce is gonna throw at me next week. What if I had to put this on the line?

[Host/Analyst]

Right. Well, that's the other thing, too. Have you thought about the fact that, like, now it. It's. Look, you're three. I would argue the three best matches of your career have been your three matches with Becky Lynch. Yeah. But now you've set the standard.

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Maxine Dupree]

I'm scared.

[Host/Analyst]

Terrified.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yeah. I think that I've learned more working with her than I've learned in a very long time. Because, like a lot of people say, Sports Illustrated says it, she's the greatest of all time. However, if you want to be the best, you got to beat the best. And, baby, I beat the best.

[Host/Analyst]

You did. And that has to make you feel good. Megan, I know you never wanted Becky to lose the title, but if the person who won it from her is acknowledging she won it from the best, at least.

[Megan]

Listen, we were out on the floor and we walked down from Madison Square Garden, you know, to this. This fine room to interview Maxine. And I said to you, as sad as I am about Becky losing the title, if someone was going to be Becky for the title, I'm very glad that it was Maxine.

[Host/Analyst]

You did say that.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you so much. I know that was hard for you to see.

[Megan]

Say, you know, it's just. It's nothing personal. I'm just. I just love Becky.

[Maxine Dupree]

It's okay. All the haters came back around. Did you hear them tonight? You'll be next.

[Host/Analyst]

I did hear them. You know, one of the things we were talking earlier on this show with John Cena about is.

[Maxine Dupree]

Oh, the other IC champ.

[Host/Analyst]

You and John Cena, one in the same. Right. And also, by the way, after Survivor Series, probably you and Dominic Mysterio. That's even bigger. Oh, my God.

[Maxine Dupree]

They don't call me dirty Maxine. I shower. I have good hygiene.

[Host/Analyst]

Next question.

[Maxine Dupree]

I smell nice.

[Host/Analyst]

Okay.

[Maxine Dupree]

Don't get it twisted.

[Host/Analyst]

Okay, that's good.

[Maxine Dupree]

I don't have time to deal with Liv or Roxanne. Like, I'm busy right now. I am so busy. Might be coming for you, though.

[Host/Analyst]

That's true. Those are two people that could at Some point be coming for you. But John brought up the importance of Madison Square Garden as an arena. I mean, this is the building that, that this company was really founded on. When it was, you know, the, when it was Capitol Wrestling, when it was the territory. Said, this is the home of this promotion. And tonight's Monday Night Raw was one of the. Easily one of the biggest of the year. Celebrities all over the place, every sort of executive suit and tie.

[Maxine Dupree]

All day, all day. It felt like mania. I was like, what is going on?

[Host/Analyst]

Yes. And for that to be the spot where you get this honor, I mean.

[Maxine Dupree]

No, I can't believe it.

[Host/Analyst]

You have, you have. I feel like kind of jumped head first into this wrestling world.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yeah. I not going to lie to you. I don't know how I got here, but I could not be more grateful. And like, I'm just. I'm literally going to cuddle this tonight.

[Host/Analyst]

Have you thought about the name plates? Have you, have you put the side plates on yet or have you seen the side plates or.

[Maxine Dupree]

They may have brought it to me and said, we don't have your side plates yet because nobody was expecting me to win.

[Host/Analyst]

I didn't think you're gonna win. Clearly.

[Maxine Dupree]

Clearly. No one even ordered my side plates. It's my third title match. Like, tell me you didn't think I was gonna win.

[Host/Analyst]

Right.

[Maxine Dupree]

And so I said, listen, I've been in charge for about three minutes. I expect the next week.

[Host/Analyst]

I think that's. I think that's.

[Maxine Dupree]

But at least I, you know, I got a cute logo and if I just hold it like this, not to pull a miz, but like, then it's Maxine.

[Host/Analyst]

That's true, that's true.

[Maxine Dupree]

If anyone asks, these are my side plates. And Miss, do not come for me.

[Host/Analyst]

That's fair.

[Maxine Dupree]

Unless you want to do a mixed tag match, then I'm down.

[Host/Analyst]

Miss, one of the greatest intercontinental champions of all time.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yeah, yeah. Have you Miss. And John Cena and Dominic.

[Megan]

That's inarguable. Have you talked to Natty yet?

[Maxine Dupree]

You guys, when I tell you, like, I haven't done anything yet. I can't wait to talk to her, though. But I haven't even seen my phone. I don't know where it is.

[John Cena]

Wow.

[Maxine Dupree]

I came back and came here.

[Host/Analyst]

Who needs a phone when you have the Intercontinental Championship?

[Megan]

Exactly.

[Maxine Dupree]

I know that Natty's going to be over the moon. I did talk to her this morning. She sent me a really nice message and was like, before the day gets crazy. Because the day got crazy, you know, I had. We were at the food bank this morning, which was so cool. Getting to volunteer food banks for NYC and then also west side campaign against hunger. So that was awesome. So it was a crazy day. And then we came straight here and dove right in. But she sent me a very nice message. Just like, take it in. This is your moment. You can do this. You know what to do.

[Host/Analyst]

At what point did you believe that? Right? At what point? Because it's been pretty well documented how much work you've done in the dungeon, how much work you've done with Natty, how it's like, basically anytime we don't see Maxine Dupree on television, she's working on getting better and working on getting better. At what point did you have the confidence to say, like, no, this is the match I should be in.

[Maxine Dupree]

Maybe tomorrow? No, I don't know. Like, I don't think that that's, like, for me. I seriously cannot believe that this was my day. Like, I'm like, how did I get here? I. I don't know. When I had my first match with Becky, I never expected Adam Pierce to offer me another one. That was. I thought I was getting one match, then I got a second match, then I got a third match, and it was like, wait, how am I, like, in my head, like, how am I pulling off these wins? What am I doing? Like, I don't know. It's like an out of body experience. And even tonight, I know that once I go home and, like, sleep, it'll all come back to me right now. Like, I seriously blacked out out there. I don't know what happened until the roar of, like, oh, my gosh, I'm the IC champ.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah.

[Maxine Dupree]

And how do we get here? I don't know.

[Host/Analyst]

There's only been three Women's Intercontinental Champions. Yeah, you're right there.

[Maxine Dupree]

No, it's really crazy.

[Host/Analyst]

And you know you're supposed to wear it to the airport when you fly home.

[Maxine Dupree]

Oh, you think I'm gonna let this thing out of my sight? Becky might come and try and steal it from me. Absolutely. Absolutely not. She looked pretty pissed in there when I was rolling out with my new bestie, aj.

[Host/Analyst]

She's biting one of the ropes. Yeah, Becky lynch was biting a rope.

[Maxine Dupree]

She's kind of feral.

[John Cena]

It's a good word.

[Host/Analyst]

What's the relationship with. With AJ Lee? How did that all come about?

[Maxine Dupree]

Listen, you guys know I love a diva. Yeah, I love a diva. Was I expecting her to come out and help me?

[Host/Analyst]

No.

[John Cena]

Right.

[Maxine Dupree]

I was shocked to my Core. But I think it's a testament to who she is as a person. And like she said, she will stand up to a bully. At the end of the day, that's what Becky is. And I think that she has seen that the last two matches that Becky took the easy way out. Dq. Count out. And she was done letting that happen. You want to play that game? Let's play it. Finish it. Adrian. Touch her.

[Host/Analyst]

No way. No way. Just caused the distraction. You were ready for it.

[John Cena]

You were up there perched.

[Maxine Dupree]

Her music scares you that much? I think it's kind of cute.

[Host/Analyst]

Well, I don't. I don't know. Look, I mean, you talk about getting into wrestling watching Total Divas.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

And the star of Total Divas, one of them was Natalia.

[Maxine Dupree]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

The idea that, like, no, I'm living the dream. I mean, how often do you sit there and, like, look around, especially on a night like tonight, and go, how is this.

[Maxine Dupree]

It's actually insane. How do I share a locker room tonight with Nikki Bella?

[Megan]

AJ Lee?

[Maxine Dupree]

Natalia is not here. She'd be top of the list. And you know that. And all these incredibly talented women. Bailey, Lyra, EO Sky, Rhea, Ripley. And I get the opportunity to go out in Madison Square Garden and face Becky Lynch. I don't know. Counting my lucky stars.

[Host/Analyst]

I always say in wrestling, like, if you want to know if somebody's in the position that they should be in or not, you just listen to the sounds that happen when they're there. That's all it is. That's. To me, that's all. You just listen to the sounds that the audience makes. And I think that there was no doubt that tonight in Madison Square Garden, you were in the right place in the right role.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you.

[Host/Analyst]

And you're the right person to be the Intercontinental Champion.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you. That means the world. Now I want to say it, Megan.

[Megan]

I think you are the right person.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you.

[Megan]

Women's Intercontinental Champion. I am very excited for you.

[Maxine Dupree]

I have put that on a T shirt.

[Megan]

Yeah. Front row seat to watch your journey, which. Thank you, is so much fun, and I'm so happy for you. And I can't wait to see the 2026 vision board.

[Maxine Dupree]

I know.

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, do you gotta get crazy? Do you get crazy? Or do you get, like. I mean, what. What do you know? What do you do now? Like, do you. Do you just realize, like, okay, I'm in a position where it's time to just ride the wave and see what comes next? Or do we keep figuring things out.

[Maxine Dupree]

And manifesting anyone Ever get good from riding the wave? Okay.

[Host/Analyst]

Right.

[Maxine Dupree]

We're trying to break barriers. I got things to do.

[Host/Analyst]

Right.

[Maxine Dupree]

I've got things to do. Starting with seeing how long I can hang on to this bad boy, how many times I can defend it, how many. How much growth I can have in each and every match to come out on top of. That's what I'm focused on. I will say, I think that Becky made this title what it is. She made it a big time title and I plan to do the exact same.

[Host/Analyst]

And when you share your vision board with us next year, of course.

[Maxine Dupree]

Do you just wanna have a vision board party?

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah.

[Maxine Dupree]

Wouldn't that be fun?

[Host/Analyst]

It'd be so fun.

[Maxine Dupree]

I would love that.

[Host/Analyst]

I've never been invited to one of the. Well, I mean, when I say one of those, I mean a party. But. Maxine Dupree, congratulations.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you so much.

[Host/Analyst]

Thank you so much for spending some time with us on this of all nights for you and.

[Maxine Dupree]

Unbelievable.

[Host/Analyst]

Go take it in and enjoy yourself.

[John Cena]

You did it.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you.

[John Cena]

You did it.

[Maxine Dupree]

Bailey may have said that there's tequila in the locker room to celebrate.

[Host/Analyst]

Get that tequila. Get that tequila. Get that tequila.

[Maxine Dupree]

Thank you guys. Thank you.

[Megan]

Congrats, man.

[Host/Analyst]

What a night for Maxine Dupree, the new Intercontinental champion. I mean, just awesome. Just awesome. And we thank Maxine for stopping by and doing the podcast. Look, we have all these great opportunities to hang with these WWE Superstars here on the podcast. Not everybody is so fortunate, but you can be. You can start hanging with these Superstars. How do you do that? Well, you go to Fanatics Fest. Yes. Big news. WWE and sports fans. The worlds number one sports fan festival, Fanatics Fest is making its return to New York City. Fanatics is bringing you closer to the league's team Superstars and athletes you love across four action packed days in July. Meet your favorite WWE Superstars. Maybe Maxine Dupree will be there and get your hands on exclusive merch, catch live podcasts and interact with the biggest names in sports. Tickets are now on sale and Raw Recap fans can get a 10% discount by using Raw Recap 10 at checkout. That's Raw Recap 10 at checkout. And let's be honest, it is such a big deal that John Cena literally said his life, ok, was changed.

[Megan]

All right.

[Host/Analyst]

Last year at Fanatics Fest.

[Megan]

He said.

[Host/Analyst]

He said his life was made last year at Fanatics Fest. I can't remember who made his life. Who did he say? You don't know? But did he say who did he say made his life?

[Megan]

He said that you made his life.

[Host/Analyst]

That's right.

[Megan]

Well, maybe he did.

[Host/Analyst]

Maybe you will get the opportunity to make John Cena's life. Just get your fanatics fest tickets. It's. It's gonna be a hum dinger now.

[Megan]

Is that what they're saying?

[Host/Analyst]

That's what they're on the streets. That's what they're saying on the street. Humdinger, they're saying. So we'll see. I think it will be.

[Maxine Dupree]

I think it's wild that you are.

[Megan]

The one who made John Cena's life.

[Host/Analyst]

I. I would never have. I. Well, I'm very humble, so I wouldn't have thought me. But I'll believe him. I'll take his word for it.

[Megan]

It's been a big night for you.

[Host/Analyst]

Massive.

[Megan]

A lot of hobnobbin for you backstage today, bro.

[Host/Analyst]

The tribal chief came back. That literally trumps every. I don't care who was here. The tribal chief is back. I don't care. It's nice to see people.

[Megan]

Tell your children this is why you have food on your table.

[Host/Analyst]

Right? Thank you. Thank you, Uncle Roman. Is what they say. That's what they say every time we have dinner. But we were talking to Maxine. You were talking about A.J. lee.

[Megan]

Yes.

[Host/Analyst]

So not only do we get this return tonight, I mean, tonight you get the return.

[Megan]

I love the skipping. It's so classic, right. When she skips her way down to the ring and she knows she's getting in Becky Lynch's head because she knows she got in Becky Lynch's head at Russell Palooza and she knows she got in Becky Lynch's head on. On the way to Russell Palooza. And Becky lynch was so distracted throughout the Maxine Dupree rivalry. I mean, part of it is because, you know, she was dealing with a referee who was. Who was clearly, you know, had some. Some questionable calls throughout the rivalry. But that's neither here nor there.

[Host/Analyst]

The referee had questionable calls. If you're Adam Pierce, what do you even do?

[Megan]

Multiple fines and multiple suspensions to the one reference.

[Host/Analyst]

Yes, multiple.

[Megan]

Okay. That's correct. Anyways, getting Back to the A.J. lee.

[Host/Analyst]

Oh, sorry.

[Megan]

Of it all.

[Host/Analyst]

Okay.

[Megan]

A.J. lee knows exactly how.

[Host/Analyst]

Jessica Carr, that was the referee in every match. Right.

[Megan]

To push.

[Host/Analyst]

Oh, sorry.

[Megan]

Becky Lynch's buttons right now. It's. It's not difficult to get Becky lynch riled up, especially these days. She seems to operate very riled up. That's like a normal state for her.

[Host/Analyst]

And sometimes it's a strength.

[Megan]

Yes.

[Host/Analyst]

Other times, it distracts focus.

[Megan]

That's right. And that's what we saw tonight with A.J. lee. She has a special way of getting under the skin of Becky Lynch.

[Host/Analyst]

I love that you brought up the skip, because there is something when she skips and she's got that look on her face. It is this weird control that she knows that she has over whatever situation.

[Megan]

She's careless, and everybody else is enraged.

[Host/Analyst]

But she's not careless. She's so controlled and knows. But she knows to portray careless.

[Megan]

Yes.

[Host/Analyst]

And that's what enrages people. I think that's 100% right on the money. There was a moment backstage, right, where on smackdown, Charlotte said she didn't want to be on the women's War Games team. On Raw, it appears.

[Megan]

Because she doesn't trust Rhea Ripley.

[Host/Analyst]

Right. Everything counts.

[Megan]

Yes.

[Host/Analyst]

On Raw, it appears that maybe her distrust of Rhea Ripley is not larger than her friendship with Alexa Bliss. The friendship with Alexa Bliss may have brought her back into the fold, but Rhea Ripley walks over to AJ Lee, who's having a conversation with Jackie Redmond. And for a moment, Jackie Redmond was all of us. When Rhea goes, hey, can I come talk to you about something? And AJ Lee and Rhea Ripley walk away. And I mean, Jackie Redmond is. Is. I mean, jaw on the ground as was I. Do you know what this means? I mean, are we gonna see AJ Lee in a War Games match?

[Megan]

We could.

[Host/Analyst]

Oh, I hope so.

[Megan]

If we see AJ Lee in a War Games match, does that mean we're going to see?

[Host/Analyst]

I mean, let's not get the cart before the horse. We're gonna get very excited, and this happens to us, Megan. This happens to us. We come up with all these ideas, we get ourselves excited.

[Megan]

Listen, we still need to know if. If Charlotte Flair is going to be in a War Games match.

[Host/Analyst]

We didn't get that confirmation.

[Megan]

No. We know that she has Alexa's back. But to what it is, is that enough to overcome the lack of trust in Rio Ripley?

[Host/Analyst]

There is so much happening right now, and that's why we need to be here to recap it. That's why we're always here to recap it. We will continue to be here to recap it next week after Survivor Series. Who knows where else will pop up? But the WWE podcasts are all over the place, just hitting it on all cylinders. Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Logan Paul's podcast. I just watched this Stephanie McMahon interview with Paul Heyman. It's a life changer. I mean, it's one of the best podcasts I've ever listened to, period, on any network. But it's nice that it's on ours. And of course, one of my favorite podcasts, Six Feet under with the Undertaker, is back this Wednesday. New episode of The Undertaker's podcast, Six Feet under, coming this Wednesday. And of course, the Undertaker's doing a live one on the 12th of December in Washington, D.C. so be there, be square. Look, Megan, huge night for a lot of reasons on Monday night Raw tonight, we've barely scratched the surface, but we will be here to scratch that surface once more next week. Did you have one particular highlight of tonight?

[Megan]

I got to take a picture with Lin Manuel Miranda.

[Host/Analyst]

Okay. That was big. That was big. That was big.

[Megan]

Yeah.

[Host/Analyst]

That was big.

[Megan]

It was very big.

[Host/Analyst]

Yeah. All right. Well, yeah.

[Megan]

Excited about that.

[Host/Analyst]

That was another big name. Yeah, that was here all to witness the return.

[Megan]

It was a humdinger.

[Host/Analyst]

That's what they're all saying. Raw was a humdinger, and so was the raw recap. Make sure that you hit, like, on YouTube. Make sure that you subscribe across all audio platforms, and make sure that you are here with us next week when we recap Raw once again. Have a good one. Everybod.