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- [00:04]
Megan Morant
Paul Heyman gets stomped. Roman Reigns and CM Punk cross every line imaginable. Raquel Rodriguez is on the show. Did Dominik Mysterio just get cursed? This is the Raw recap on WWE now at WWE and Fanatics original production. Check this out. So much to talk about. And we will talk about it all. The highs, the lows, the everything in between. But Megan Morant, you see the WrestleMania sign hanging above us because that's, that's the road that we're on to. The road that was described ending Monday Night Raw tonight when Roman Reigns and CM Punk met in the ring again. The last time we saw these guys together was the Monday after the Royal Rumble when Roman Reigns made it official. Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble and immediately said he was choosing CM Punk. And he was not choosing CM Punk because he thought it would be easy. He's not choosing CM Punk because CM Punk's on Raw on Netflix. He's choosing CM Punk because he hates him. Because he hates him. He's always hated him. In the meantime, CM Punk has had his differences with Finn Balor. They hashed it out at the elimination Chamber. CM Punk retains the championship. Finn Balor was talking about it in the Judgment Day clubhouse, saying that he didn't love the result. However, he was at peace with everything that happened. It ended on a handshake. All well and good, but immediately, immediately when that match was over, I mean, before Danhausen had even come out of his crate, there was a tweet up that let everybody know that now the pedal was going to be going to the metal because Roman Reigns tweeted out that he didn't know who was more tired, the crowd or the champion. Double insult from Roman Reigns. CM Punk addressed it on the post show, and it brings us to Monday Night Raw.
- [02:11]
Sam
Then he also told Punk to enjoy his his last little bit of relevancy,
- [02:15]
Megan Morant
his remaining weeks of relevancy before Wrestlemania. Roman Reigns comes to the ring on Monday Night Raw looking only the way Roman Reigns could look.
- [02:27]
Sam
I liked the black jacket.
- [02:29]
Megan Morant
I mean, he's just complete style. He's switching it up. I, I, I look like a Daytona on his Wrist. I'm not 100% sure because I didn't see the band, but that's what it looked like to me. And all he could do was ask Indiana to acknowledge him, which they did. They. And they were happy to. They were happy to. In Indy. They know who puts food on the table. But then CM Punk came out immediately,
- [02:53]
Sam
before Roman could get another word out.
- [02:55]
Megan Morant
Wasting no time, CM Punk comes in the ring, Roman Reigns is nothing but rage, anger, hatred. As he looks at CM Punk and
- [03:07]
Sam
CM Punk's having one of the best nights of his life.
- [03:10]
Megan Morant
Well, he's having a good time. At least he was until the end.
- [03:14]
Sam
I mean, he had the shiner under his eye and all.
- [03:16]
Megan Morant
CM Punk.
- [03:17]
Sam
CM Punk gets into that ring with Roman Reigns, his WrestleMania opponent, in a great mood.
- [03:23]
Megan Morant
I mean, he's. He acted as if he was in a great mood. CM Punk can. Can act as though Roman Reigns is the only one with feelings in that ring. All that he wants. You don't end a segment the way CM Punk ended it. If you don't have just the same amount of hatred, just the same amount of emotion, you can't. If you are going to tell me that CM Punk is in Roman Reigns, his head, you can't tell me that Roman Reigns is not in CM Punk's head.
- [03:50]
Sam
Yeah, it's a good point, because this is what CM Punk brings up. He said, I have you exactly where I want you. You're talking about how much you hate me. You're being emotional. And then where CM Punk brought it,
- [04:02]
Megan Morant
CM Punk's being emotional too. And that's what you're going to expect. Look, the fact is that Roman Reigns knows all the buttons to push as well for CM Punk. While CM Punk was gone for 10 years, Roman reigns was seeing everything and everyone that this business has to offer. I can only imagine, you know, every time we've had somebody on this show and they talk about being champion, they talk about what it really is to be champion, what it feels like, not just the matches, not just the media schedule, but the backstage of it all. The. The people you interact with, the people you can trust, and the people that you can't trust to maintain a championship reign for three and a half years and be on top of the business with metrics that make it so that it's completely undeniable, is not something that can be done by mistake. And it's not a position that you can be put in by a company. It's something that an individual who has mastered their craft and only that person can pull off. And I think on some level, CM Punk has gotta be looking at Roman Reigns as the guy that the company was trying to put into a position. When CM Punk left, Roman Reigns was just starting to be put into that upper echelon position by the company, and the fans were just starting to reject it. Except in that period of time, Roman Reigns learned and he learned and he learned and he got better and better at not just in ring, but all aspects of the professional wrestling business. And CM Punk now shares the ring with somebody who barely even resembles the person that he left 10 years ago. Roman Reigns is a complete master of this craft in any context that you want to take that in. And I think CM Punk is dealing with that. That he may have categorized Roman Reigns in a certain way and gone, wow, you know, he didn't come up the way I came up. He didn't have to, you know, fight and scratch. It's a different. Roman Reigns came up in a completely different way. And I think what's going on with CM Punk right now is this idea that, like, maybe this, this isn't the Roman Reigns that I left behind. This is a Roman Reigns that has mastered this. And when you ask the audience, I mean, even when he said as much as the audience was on his side and will be on his side, when he said, I think if you ask Indianapolis, they'll tell you, I've already beaten you too. Indy was not on CM Punk side for that moment. Every other moment they were with him. But when he said, I've already beaten Roman Reigns, Indy, you could hear it. You can go back and listen to it.
- [06:50]
Sam
Is this Roman Reigns?
- [06:51]
Megan Morant
There's a little recoil. They're like, whoa, that's the tribal chief you're talking about. Yeah, that's our one. Like, like, let's, let's, let's relax there. And I think that that's what CM Punk's dealing with.
- [07:00]
Sam
I love that you point out how Roman created this spot that nobody could just be put into.
- [07:06]
Megan Morant
That's right.
- [07:06]
Sam
Like what Roman's Reign did was an era of wwe. It was historic in every sense. What Roman, you know, the Roman that Punk interacted with was a different person than the OTC.
- [07:24]
Megan Morant
100%.
- [07:24]
Sam
Not even close.
- [07:25]
Megan Morant
Right? And that's why, you know, CM Punk drawing on that experience is relevant. It's relevant to the conversation. It's historically relevant. But it doesn't. It's not the summation of everything that stands in front of CM Punk. And that, I think is something that Roman Reigns knows, that CM Punk doesn't have this Roman Reigns his number because, I mean, I would say nobody has this Roman Reigns his number. You might turn around and say, well, I think Cody might. Maybe he does. But I would say nobody has this Roman Reigns number because nobody's been able to repeat what Roman Reigns has done.
- [08:03]
Sam
Roman is also pushing a bunch of buttons for CM Punk, saying, we brought you back to Tell to sell T shirts. We brought you back. We constantly saying we over and over again. And to me, that was reiterating what we saw in that first confrontation where Roman told CM Punk that the higher ups came to Roman Reigns to make sure it was okay and cool if CM Punk came back.
- [08:30]
Megan Morant
And I like that. And that's a power move. But CM Punk hit him right back. Who's we? I don't see anybody here with you. Who's we? What's this we that you're talking about? I believe he asked him if he had Samoan Goblins in his pocket. Something like that. Is it Goblins? Was that what he. Was that what he said? Yeah. Who is this we? And I think that that's a, that's a great retort on CM Punk's part, but I think that Roman came ready for CM Punk. CM Punk bringing up Indianapolis as the, as the city that the Shield debuted in, and talking about bringing Roman Reigns into the WWE because the Shield was brought in to be CM Punk Shield and Roman Reigns who, I mean, oh, what I wouldn't give to sit down with Roman Reigns and just talk about his history, because it's clearly a steel trap. It was a, it was a bumpy road for Roman getting to the position that he's in. And he remembers everything.
- [09:26]
Sam
Of course he does.
- [09:26]
Megan Morant
He knows who doubted him. He knows who tried to stop him. And, and he's got real resentment because he was able to do stuff in this industry that nobody's ever done. And he said, okay, now I'm not bringing anybody with me who wasn't with me then. And he said to Punk, you brought the other two guys, not me. Which historically is accurate because it's known Punk had a different vision, for lack of a better term for the Shield. It was not Roman Reigns. And Roman Reigns came in despite those wishes. However, to Punk's credit, the Shield being put in the position that they were put in and Roman Reigns being put in the position that he was put in is because of, of how high up on the card CM Punk was. I, I, I, I, I thought even more so than the we stuff. Roman refusing to call CM Punk cm,
- [10:22]
Sam
CM Punk and only call him Phil,
- [10:24]
Megan Morant
calling him by his government name the entire time, saying maybe you're a punk ass is what he told him. Yeah, but like, but, but like only calling him Phil and like doing it in, in a real, in a real disrespectful way.
- [10:38]
Sam
You want to know a moment that really stood out to me?
- [10:41]
Megan Morant
Yeah.
- [10:41]
Sam
When Roman Reigns called CM Punk as the World Heavyweight Champion. The backup plan.
- [10:46]
Megan Morant
The backup plan, Yeah. I mean, Roman Reigns knows. I mean, it is word economy. It's word. It's. How do you send that message home with the fewest words possible? And Roman knows exactly how to do that. Talking about how you were brought back for the 30 to 40 year old virgins. Talking about how you were brought back. He's basically saying for the older demographic that you were brought back to sell some T shirts, that you were brought back to maybe bring some people in to Chicago, sell some tickets in Chicago. But he called the World Heavyweight Championship above CM Punk's pay grade. He said the only reason, he said that he would be completely indifferent to CM Punk. But CM Punk doesn't deserve to wear that championship. Do you think that there really are Roman Reigns cousins that are going to Roman and saying that Punk is not as happy as he seems to be, that Punk is. Is complaining every chance that he gets?
- [11:41]
Sam
Well, you know, this is CM Punk we're talking about. And while he's come back a different person on the surface level, what do we know about CM Punk?
- [11:51]
Megan Morant
You tell me.
- [11:52]
Sam
CM Punk has always been somebody who's
- [11:55]
Megan Morant
voiced his concerns, correct?
- [11:57]
Sam
Voiced his concerns?
- [11:58]
Megan Morant
Yeah.
- [11:59]
Sam
I don't know. It seems like the CM Punk that we see on television has changed. Has he changed backstage? I don't know.
- [12:07]
Megan Morant
Well, every interaction that I've had with him has been pleasant. And I do wonder too. Are Roman's cousins just going to tell Roman what he wants to hear? Who can you. Who can you trust in any of these scenarios? And who does Roman really have watching his back in a scenario where he's not in the building every week, he's not on television every week, you have to depend on people to give you word from what's going on. I don't think that that's as reliable as actually being there.
- [12:34]
Sam
And also, his cousins aren't what they once were. I mean, we're talking about J uso, a former World Heavyweight champion, when Jey USO was telling his cousin the big ooze all the information he wasn't exactly in the World Championship picture.
- [12:48]
Megan Morant
Meaning what?
- [12:49]
Sam
Things change?
- [12:52]
Megan Morant
Well, I think that. I think that roaming, kind of undressing CM Punk saying, I'm going to. I'm not only going to take the title from you, I'm gonna send you on a John Cena retirement tour. And then I'm gonna send you down to NXT and you're gonna teach the next generation. And you know, and you have to wonder Cause, you know, somewhere in the back of CM Punk's head, he's saying, one day I could be a. I could be a trainer at the performance center. We've seen him at the performance center. But when that gets brought up to you as like, hey, don't worry, I'm gonna end you. And then you'll be a. You'll be a teacher. You'll be. It'll be great to have you around here. And then Roman, who. And this, to me was. Was very telling. A lot of people have wondered what Roman's future is going to be with the WWE long term. And what did Roman say while you're down in the performance center teaching the next generation? I'm going to call him up and I'm going to smash all of them. Roman is painting a picture where he is the man in the WWE for a significant amount of time, foreseeable future, which makes me happy, I can tell you that.
- [13:59]
Sam
Of course it does.
- [13:59]
Megan Morant
I can tell you.
- [14:00]
Sam
Everybody's going to be eating well.
- [14:02]
Megan Morant
Yes. Yes. Especially the children.
- [14:04]
Sam
Yes, especially the children growing.
- [14:05]
Megan Morant
Yeah, they are. Yeah, they are. Roman then walking away, and I thought that's what was going to happen. I thought Roman was going to walk away, the music was going to play, and that's the end of the segment. But Punk didn't let it happen because Punk said, okay, you want to cross lines, we'll cross lines. And he says, now, I'm not just going to beat you, I'm going to bury you. And he brought up Roman's father, the late, great Sika from the Wild Samoans. And Roman, man, that guy tells a story with his face.
- [14:36]
Sam
Yes, he does.
- [14:37]
Megan Morant
We pointed out a month ago when
- [14:38]
Sam
he does the nuances.
- [14:39]
Megan Morant
The nuances of his face. Roman, in the position that he's in, hasn't had to deal with that level of disrespect. Even the people that want to beat him, even the people that don't like him, even the people that want him gone from the wwe, they still, on a level, realize who they're sharing space with. Of course they still realize this is a different level. And there's a reverence and a respect that goes with that.
- [15:07]
Sam
He's in God mode.
- [15:08]
Megan Morant
Yes. Roman expects that reverence and respect. So to see somebody hit as low as somebody can possibly hit. I don't remember the last time verbally that Roman was hit that low. And I think that in that moment, in that sort of breakdown on his face, he realizes that, like, when was the last time he had to deal with that kind of disrespect and that, that is the kind of dog fight that we've got going into WrestleMania.
- [15:37]
Sam
We got seven weeks until WrestleMania and things are just starting to heat up.
- [15:42]
Megan Morant
My gosh, My gosh. Well, I'll tell you what, with everything heating up and everything, I try to make sure that I stay aware of everything going on all the time. My day to day life is so busy, but I'm listening all the time. You know how Raycon. Okay, let me tell you about this Raycon. Okay. As we head into spring, I've been craving fewer distractions. It's too much for me. More focus throughout my day, whether I'm working, whether I'm commuting or just taking a moment for myself. That's why I've been using Raycon's Everyday Earbuds classic. They've become my go to for daily listening. They have active noise cancellation that blocks out background noise so I can stay locked in. Whether I'm listening to music, whether I'm catching up on podcasts, whether I maybe I'm taking a phone call, maybe I'll listen to my own opinions on this podcast. Going. Great point, Sam. All of it is on the table thanks to Raycon. And I know you, you wear these things while you're running, is that right?
- [16:39]
Sam
Oh, yeah. It's the only way to run with these Raycon, because you can wear them in awareness mode, which allows you to not only hear your music, but you can also hear people walking by, you can hear cars coming, you can hear dogs barking. It's a safe way to go, but it also allows you to enjoy your music while you're experiencing the world around you.
- [16:59]
Megan Morant
And that also is, I mean, that's why both of us can get our Raycons because it really is our personalities. You're sitting there trying to enjoy your audio entertainment, but still let the world in. And I'm trying to find a dark corner where I can shut everybody out. And Raycon makes it all possible for both of us.
- [17:15]
Sam
That's right.
- [17:15]
Megan Morant
It's an amazing thing. I've been using these every day especially because, well, you're you. You use the awareness mode I use my noise canceling mode lets you hear what's going on around you all the time. The Everyday Earbud classics are available and they are the perfect gift for refreshing your routine this spring. Go to buyraycon.com wwe now to get 20% off. Thanks Raycon for sponsoring and I will tell you, we were talking about the shield and we were talking about roaming, coming in. And we were talking about where the end of Raw went. Well, the beginning of Raw, we saw as. And it's really interesting. This is how impactful the shield has been on wwe. The end of Raw, we got references to the debut of the shield. The beginning of Raw, we got references to the end of the shield. I love it when Seth Rollins had that chair. I mean, I don't know where Seth Rollins is getting this army of masked men from, but it is the most dangerous I've ever seen. Seth Rollins. So the vision comes out, which is now down to Paul Heyman, Austin Theory and Logan Paul, that's it. And they're calling out Seth Rollins and Adam Pierce comes out and says, well, I'd like to talk to Seth Rollins too, but he ain't getting in that ring.
- [18:42]
Sam
Paul Heyman called him the biggest thief in the industry.
- [18:45]
Megan Morant
Well, yeah, that's a. That's. That's kind of just a way to a rephrase. I mean, Paul Heyman used to embrace the idea of the heist and the ruse of the century. Now that they're not on Paul Heyman's side, it's thievery. You know what I mean? It's just different words, stealing. That's it. Yeah, exactly.
- [19:01]
Sam
From different perspectives.
- [19:02]
Megan Morant
Exactly. Right?
- [19:03]
Sam
Same story, different perspective.
- [19:04]
Megan Morant
Right, right. And Paul Heyman has, as he's done before, as they point out in all the 2K games, rewrite history to make it so that he's the one who ends up the winner. Except he didn't do that.
- [19:17]
Sam
Not even close tonight.
- [19:18]
Megan Morant
So Adam Pierce says Seth is not cleared. Seth hasn't been cleared to wrestle. And he's going to have to. He's going to have to be cleared. Except maybe he doesn't have to be cleared because he's got more masked men than you could shake a stick at. Five masked men show up, the fifth being Seth Rollins. I mean, he bought these. He bought a gross of black masks.
- [19:40]
Sam
He was at Costa Masks.
- [19:42]
Megan Morant
That's right. That's 100%.
- [19:43]
Sam
Buy him in bulk.
- [19:44]
Megan Morant
One masked guy comes out. No, it's not him. But he gets Adam Pearson, the officials away. Another masked guy comes out. He gets Logan, Paul away. Another masked guy comes out. He gets Austin Theory away. Another mask guy comes out. He distracts Paul Heyman. When another mask guy comes out from behind, Paul Heyman rips off the mask. It's Seth Rollins. He's holding a chair. And just as we saw him do to Roman Reigns all those years ago, just as was referenced when Roman Reigns returned the favor on Seth Rollins, but it cost him the WWE Championship, just as it was referenced when Sammy did it to Roman at the Royal Rumble. This all goes back to Seth and that chair shot. And he did it tonight to Paul Heyman.
- [20:34]
Sam
I love seeing Seth holding the chair. Really, it just. It's so nostalgic. It brings you back to all of these different eras, all of these different moments, and it feels bigger. It feels special.
- [20:46]
Megan Morant
I am not nostalgic for Seth Rollins ruining the shield. He betrayed the shield and he struck the man who would go on to be our tribal chief. Okay, so let's just put that out there real quick. You know, I always have to stop you, just like it did at Elimination Chamber when you brought up the stacking. Well, I said let's not bring up the tribal chief.
- [21:06]
Sam
Let's not use it very. Your tribal chief.
- [21:08]
Megan Morant
I don't want his name to be seen.
- [21:09]
Sam
You just hadn't seen a stack like that.
- [21:11]
Megan Morant
No, I know, I know.
- [21:12]
Sam
It was a nice stack.
- [21:13]
Megan Morant
But in this context, it was also nice to see Seth Rollins with that chair, knowing where he came from, knowing what this means, what this does, especially to a guy like Paul Heyman. He knocks Paul Heyman down. The adorable Oracle is now on all fours. And I think if you look at Paul Heyman's face, he knows what's coming. He can't get up. He knows there's nothing he can do here. He's stuck. And Seth Rollins, I think he put a little extra stank on that.
- [21:44]
Sam
He had to.
- [21:44]
Megan Morant
I think he got about 12ft up in the air.
- [21:46]
Sam
I mean, listen, it's been his shoulder. Shoulder that's injured, not the leg. He's been working on those stomps. You better believe it.
- [21:52]
Megan Morant
Oh, yeah, he was. He was eating.
- [21:54]
Sam
You can work on your stomps while you're rehabbing a shoulder.
- [21:56]
Megan Morant
He's box jumping left and right, just getting air, getting air, getting air. And then that boot comes down on the back of the bald head of Paul Heyman. And I can say that you can because you're bald. Thank you.
- [22:08]
Sam
You're allowed to.
- [22:09]
Megan Morant
Back of the bald head of Paul Heyman. Paul Heyman's face. And Paul Heyman is not a wrestler. Paul Heyman, he's been in the business forever. He started with Lance Russell, for God's sake. Dusty Rhodes shared a locker room with Paul. I mean, this is. This. Paul Heymon's been around.
- [22:29]
Sam
Yeah, he has.
- [22:31]
Megan Morant
And Paul Heymon gets stomped face making contact with that mat. And a bloody Paul Heyman looks up and has to get helped out of the arena. This is a Paul Heyman. First of all, you laughing at Paul Heyman with blood gushing down from his face. I'm just thinking looking like one of the victims of the Penguin in Batman Returns when he bites the nose off and you're laughing at that. You think that's funny to happen to a person?
- [22:58]
Sam
I'm just thinking back to over the weekend, Paul Heyman shrieking. Shrieking so loud on the west side of Chicago that you could hear him in Evanston, Illinois, about Seth Rollins being.
- [23:13]
Megan Morant
Clearly, he had a reason to shriek.
- [23:14]
Sam
48 hours later, he has to exit the arena with a bloody nose.
- [23:18]
Megan Morant
I mean, he had a reason. Would you say that he was foolish to shriek? I'd say not.
- [23:24]
Sam
Well, after calling Becky Lynch Mr. Lynch, Paul Heyman got everything that he deserved tonight.
- [23:31]
Megan Morant
It is. It did feel very. Reap what you sow. It did feel like a situation that Paul Heyman got himself in because he thought he was smarter than everybody, and he just wasn't. You know, Seth Rollins was never Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins was never Brock Lesnar. And we would point that out when we would talk about the Vision. There was always a different type of chemistry between Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins. It felt like Seth Rollins was aware of what a help Paul Heyman could be, but it never felt like he had drank the whole glass of Kool Aid.
- [24:01]
Sam
Yeah.
- [24:01]
Megan Morant
No.
- [24:01]
Sam
It never felt like he fully was letting him in.
- [24:04]
Megan Morant
No. No.
- [24:05]
Sam
Then Paul never fully letting Paul Heyman control his every action.
- [24:09]
Megan Morant
I don't think so. I'm clearly not anymore, as Paul Heyman is now in the back. Logan and Austin Theory are in the back with them. Jimmy USO shows up. Look at Paul Heyman, and he's not. I can't tell if when Paul Heyman is in that ambulance, if he is in pain because his whole face is broken, or if he's realizing that he's messed up so severely that somehow his original two are gone on the injured list. That Seth Rollins. At the worst possible timing, Seth Rollins is back. Just as his biggest protectors are gone. And now he's in the back of an ambulance with just no sort of relief in sight.
- [25:01]
Sam
This may be as low as Paul Heyman's been since he got put through a table at Madison Square Garden by Solo Sokoa.
- [25:08]
Megan Morant
You may be right by the. By the bloodline 2.0. Yeah, you may be right. You may be right. And I think he would tell you that that's true. But then he's in this ambulance. And Jimmy Uso comes out. Now he's attacking the Vision. I guess Jimmy Uso is of the same mind frame that Adam Pierce is that he thinks the Vision's the one who attacked Jay and put him in an ambulance. Don't know if that's true.
- [25:32]
Sam
They did show up on smackdown and it seemed a little skeptical.
- [25:36]
Megan Morant
Well, Jay may also feel like it's true because, you know, later on in the night, Jay showed up again to help Austin theory to a 1D. But regardless, Jimmy's back there. And then LA Knight shows up to help. And just as the vision gets cleared out, LA Knight steals the ambulance that Paul Heyman is in, which this feels like a high level criminal offense to steal a first responder emergency vehicle. You can see the sirens are blaring, which is the worst thing you can do. He's got. I feel like this is kidnapping cuz Paul Heyman is locked in the back. I feel like this is stealing an emergency vehicle. It's probably breaking and entering, cuz it's not his ambulance. And I guarantee he's not sticking to the speed limit.
- [26:29]
Sam
No chance.
- [26:30]
Megan Morant
So it's speeding as well. And I mean, listen, here's what I want to know. Where on earth did he drive Paul Heyman to? Cuz I guarantee Louisiana. Knight did not drive to the nearest medical facility. 0% chance, Louisiana Knight did not drive to the Indianapolis medical facility to drop off Paul Heymon. Where did he take Paul Heymon?
- [26:53]
Sam
I think Paul Heyman's in massive trouble. I mean, that's an understatement of trouble. Where is wherever LA is taking him? It's not to get help.
- [27:02]
Megan Morant
No, it isn't to get help at all. I mean, La Knight seems like the type of guy that would probably just park it, park the ambulance on the side of the highway with Paul Heyman in it and just split. Just leave.
- [27:11]
Sam
That's what you get for having your vision put me through a car.
- [27:14]
Megan Morant
Yeah, and it's true. And Michael Cole called it out on Commentary. These are all enemies.
- [27:19]
Sam
Actions have consequences. Right? Right.
- [27:23]
Megan Morant
These are all enemies that Paul Heyman made. Oh, he never should have let the bloodline fall apart. Oh, he never should have let the bloodline.
- [27:29]
Sam
His life was so much better then, huh?
- [27:31]
Megan Morant
Remember how great that was?
- [27:32]
Sam
Yeah. All it took was one favor, you know, Ruined everything for Paul Heyman, for a lot of.
- [27:38]
Megan Morant
This is a good lesson in life. A lot of people are in situations and they go, oh, it could be better. Let me get out of this situation. Let me get out of this situation,
- [27:49]
Sam
Paul Heyman,
- [27:52]
Megan Morant
what's better, the devil you know or the devil you don't stick with the devil you know, cuz otherwise you're in the back of an ambulance that La Knight, for some ungodly reason is driving. That's where Paul Heyman is at today.
- [28:06]
Sam
He's on the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere, Indiana.
- [28:09]
Megan Morant
I mean, there's a. There was just as that ambulance door is shut, shutting. I thought it was going to. I thought that it was going to freeze frame. And, and, and, and Paul Heyman, you just hear his voice going, yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here. It was one of those moments for Paul. Amen. Only for La Knight to drive away in that ambulance. I mean, unbelievable chaos as we head to WrestleMania. Same thing is happening on SmackDown side, which we will talk about a little bit later on here on WWE now. But I'd like to get to our guest now. We were able to talk to Raquel.
- [28:45]
Sam
Yes.
- [28:46]
Megan Morant
Just as the announcement was being made for the Gauntlet match that is happening next week for A.J. lee's. A shot at A.J. lee's Intercontinental Championship. The winner of the Gauntlet match will be the number one contender for AJ Lee's WWE Intercontinental Championship. Just as that was being announced. Before we saw everything that had happened, we saw some tension with the Judgment Day. We hadn't seen the fact that, well, that there was going to be a title change. We won't really get into that, but
- [29:20]
Sam
I think we have to. I think we got to spend some time on that. It was a pretty big deal.
- [29:26]
Megan Morant
We talked to Raquel. There she is from Indianapolis, Indiana. Also coming off of a massive weekend at the Elimination Chamber, Big Sexy Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel, I have to. I have to start with the Judgment Day. I have to start with what we saw. A Monday night Raw and Dominic and the Judgment Day. Can we have a clubhouse update? We are concerned.
- [30:00]
Raquel Rodriguez
The clubhouse wishes to not speak on the subject at this moment in time. Thank you very much for your consideration on that. I would like to just focus on maybe what's going to happen next week and, and how La Familia is going to bring it back next week. All right, that's. That's what we can talk about. How about that?
- [30:15]
Megan Morant
I mean. No, yeah, no, it sounds fair if there's one.
- [30:19]
Raquel Rodriguez
All right, great, great. We're all on the same page now. All right, so you can continue with your. Your questions.
- [30:25]
Megan Morant
I appreciate that. Well, yeah, I mean, before whatever happened, happened, there was a Conversation with you and Liv Morgan about plans on both of you getting to WrestleMania. You know, right now it won't be RA in a WWE Women's Championship match because of the Elimination Chamber. But AJ Lee throws down the challenge earlier tonight, saying she's going to be a fighting champion. There's a lot of women in the division that stepped right up. And next week you are part of. Is it a. It's a six person match to determine the number one contender for the Intercontinental championship. Do you feel like this is it? This is the last sort of opportunity that you get to guarantee that you have a match at WrestleMania.
- [31:16]
Raquel Rodriguez
I mean, that's kind of a given, right? This is the absolute last opportunity I have to have a WrestleMania moment for myself. If I don't get a hold of that IC title, what am I going to do at WrestleMania? What title can I defend? What title can I go after if I have another, you know, just an opportunity to get a title in my hands, to be at WrestleMania with Liv Morgan, that would be great. So, yeah, I do feel like this is a last opportunity. We're six weeks away from WrestleMania. That's really not a lot of time, especially not in WWE world. So we got to make things happen. And that means next week, those women, whoever they are, that think they're strong enough to step up to Big Sexy, good luck. Because Big Sexy is going to be in that ring. And if you didn't see what happened in Elimination Chamber, then I really feel sorry for you. But that's okay because maybe when these fists hit your face, it'll just be a really fun surprise for you, I think, right? Like, maybe that'll be fun for everyone.
- [32:07]
Sam
I don't.
- [32:08]
Megan Morant
I don't know. Maybe for you. I don't know if funds the word. You've got Lyra.
- [32:11]
Raquel Rodriguez
For me, it's fun for everyone. That's how I see it.
- [32:13]
Megan Morant
Look, it's fun for me. That's all. That's all.
- [32:16]
Raquel Rodriguez
You know, I knew. I knew we were right here. See, I knew you were going to get on the same page as me.
- [32:20]
Megan Morant
That's right. It's Lyra. It's Bailey. It's IO.
- [32:23]
Raquel Rodriguez
It's.
- [32:24]
Megan Morant
It's Oscar. It's Ivy Nile. It's. It's going to be swarmed with competition. But, you know, I have to tell you something. On Saturday night, we were watching Elimination Chamber and we came on here to do our podcast and talk about what had happened. And Megan Moran said something. She said, inside the elimination Chamber, when Big Sexy stacked two women on Top of each other. Do you know the comparison that Meghan made? She compared it. She compared it to the Tribal Chief, to WrestleMania 37.
- [33:04]
Sam
Last time I saw a stack like that, Raquel.
- [33:06]
Megan Morant
To Roman Reigns, Raquel.
- [33:08]
Raquel Rodriguez
And look at the power the man has. Look at the position that man is in. You see what a double pin can do for someone. I am on my rise right now. No one is getting in front of the big sexy train, that's for sure. Because if you do, you're gonna get run over. Okay.
- [33:22]
Megan Morant
That's right. That big sexy trends greatness smashes them in stacks.
- [33:27]
Sam
Well, you know, Raquel, it really, it speaks to the momentum that you've been riding. Something has seems to me like it's change within you. Maybe I'm wrong, but there's just this sort of confidence. The fact that you're stacking women in the elimination chamber, the fact that you approach with a higher level of aggression, the fact that you're willing to enter this gauntlet match to punch your ticket to WrestleMania. Can you pinpoint a moment that a fire was lit within you?
- [34:02]
Raquel Rodriguez
I can't pinpoint a significant moment, Megan, to be honest with you. There's not one moment that springs to my memory that's like that was the time I knew I had to change. It's really been a progression over the past year. You know, coming back from my illness, not feeling very confident. But every week I get an opportunity to show everyone why I belong on this roster, why I belong on Monday night Raw, why I am big sexy Raquel Rodriguez. And every week someone else has something great to say about me and I'm just like, well, I mean, it's about time everybody just realizes that this is what I've been showing and proving to you guys the entire time. I just needed my moment and my opportunity, and now I'm just taking my moments and my opportunity. Elimination chamber. I was in my element. There's nothing more I love than being inside of a cage and throwing women against it for this six woman match. Member match. I don't know if it's a gauntlet match. I don't know if it's, you know, all six of us at one time. But either way, I thrive in chaos. I thrive when it comes to having multiple women at my fingertips for me to just think of insane things to do to them. And for some reason, I've just been fed these perfect moments and these perfect opportunities for me to just eat everyone alive. And yeah, sure, maybe I lost at elimination chamber, but at the end of the Day, I'm standing here ready to go again. Can I say the same for Rhea Ripley, who might be hurting a little bit more than usual? Can I say the same for Asuka, who's also in this multiple women's match, but that I. Tejana, bombed and was part of the double stack of women, which, by the way, I believe that's a first. First time ever for elimination chamber to have a double elimination. So let's make sure we get someone to write that in the history books. All right, Raquel Rodriguez. And make sure they spell it with multiple Rs at the beginning and for the last name as well.
- [35:51]
Megan Morant
It's very, very important. And I mean, I've got to say that, like, I don't recall another person that can come across with more glee and honestly, more charm when discussing punching people in the face. And just you just said with a smile and just a charm, like, that's my best friend Raquel talking about eating women alive. I mean, that, I think, is the scariness of big sexy. I'll tell you as a fan, I'll tell you as a fan what I think was a moment that, that at. At some point when it's time to kind of reflect and. And talk about this era that you're in right now. I feel like at one point, several months back, the Internet was doing what the Internet was doing, and the podcasters were doing what podcasters were doing, and the. And, and. And the. And. And the conversation started. Why? Why doesn't Raquel come across more powerful? Why doesn't Raquel come across bigger? And instead of fighting that. That wave, or instead of getting insulted or instead of anything you said, huh?
- [36:57]
Sam
Okay.
- [36:58]
Megan Morant
Okay, if that's what you wanna see. And all of a sudden, I personally, and maybe I'm wrong, but from my observation, it felt like when that conversation even started to dust up to the surface, you said, okay, I'm gonna take it upon myself to silence that conversation and just smash everybody.
- [37:17]
Raquel Rodriguez
Let's see. Thank you for that. Thank you for noticing that I've always considered myself a woman of action. You know, words are words, but they only mean so much. When you put action to those words, that's when it has more meaning. That's when it's more believable. And I just let it go. I said, I don't need to open this beautiful mouth. I'm just gonna show you guys what this strong, beautiful, powerful, tall, amazing, just great at everything woman can do out there. And that's the kind of confidence I've been carrying into every single match, every single week.
- [37:49]
Megan Morant
And I think.
- [37:49]
Sam
I think it was when. When Utah bombed John Cena.
- [37:54]
Megan Morant
That helps. I mean, that helps.
- [37:55]
Sam
That certainly will silence any of the doubters on the Internet, right?
- [37:59]
Raquel Rodriguez
And I will say that that might be one of those moments, Megan, where my. I just went. My confidence just, oh, okay, we can do this. You know, if I could say, hannah bomb John Cena, I can say Hannah Bomb anyone.
- [38:11]
Megan Morant
It really is. It's one thing to say that's a plan. It's one thing to write it down on a. On a vision board, but the moment after, on his retirement tour, you to Hannah bomb John Cena. How long does it take before you allow yourself to go, I just did that.
- [38:30]
Raquel Rodriguez
Oh, it didn't take me long at all. I make sure I was reminding every single person. Even now when I do meet and greets or I see people out in the streets and they got, you know, I asked them who's their favorite wrestler. They got John Cena gear on. I just, I go ahead and say, hey, you know, I picked him up and I threw him right down. I, Tejana, bombed him. Don't forget about that. And if they're like, oh, yeah, I'm like, here, I have the footage. I can pull it up for you on my phone right now. You want to see a picture? You want to see a video? I got it all. And it's not. I can promise you that.
- [38:59]
Megan Morant
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I mean, making impact throughout John Cena's retirement run. And you took your spot, I will say, too. And I think this is something I really noticed in the Royal Rumble, and this is something I noticed again in elimination chamber, and this is something that I notice pretty regularly on television these days. It's that there's a sound and a feeling that the audience has when you come out and when you are in big moments. And it's a feeling that I think is stronger than it has ever been before throughout your career. And it's this feeling that the audience is ready for it. The audience wants you to win. There's a huge portion of the audience that clearly wanted you to win the Royal Rumble, that clearly wanted you to win the elimination chamber. Do you. Do you feel that difference now that people are buying tickets with the purpose of not only rooting for you, but hoping to see you succeed in those moments?
- [39:53]
Raquel Rodriguez
Absolutely. I mean, when I was eliminated and I heard the audience boo, they booed my elimination. I said, are we all trying to ride the big sexy train now? Is that what's happening? I see how it is, but I don't let that get to me because I know they're all hypocrites. They cheer for me one second and then they cheer for Rhea Ripley the next.
- [40:13]
Sam
You know what I mean?
- [40:14]
Raquel Rodriguez
But that's all right. I get it. I see the comparison. I know that, you know, the people really see something cool when someone does something big and powerful, but it's because they can't do it. They are incapable of those things. They can only relate to the smaller, more insignificant women on the roster like Iyo sky and Kyrie Sane and Asuka who can relate to me. Tell me how many of those fans are six foot, Mexican, powerful, bilingual, a part of the judgment day, best friends with Lauerita and Dominic Mysterio? I not that I am one of one, okay? I am the most unique woman on this roster. You will never find another Raquel Rodriguez. And the fans are starting to notice that. And that's why they want to see me more, because I am a spectacle. I am a superstar.
- [41:05]
Sam
But when it comes to the Intercontinental Championship and somebody like AJ Lee, who has made so much history in wwe, no one expects AJ to come back. Well, she's back and she's back now as a champion for this version of Raquel, this powerful version, then you just described herself as one of the most dangerous people on the roster. For you to look face to face, go toe to toe with a legend in this industry like AJ Lee, what would that mean?
- [41:38]
Raquel Rodriguez
Oh, it would just put a stamp on the fact that big Sexy is taking over a legend like A.J. lee, someone who has worked with many big women in her history as well. I mean, let's be honest, she. I've been compared to Tamina, who was her old tag team partner. Me and Liv get compared to the same comparison of AJ Lee and Tamina all the time. But I think Liv and I are better, to say the least. It would mean the world to get to face AJ Lee. She is obviously amazing in her own right. We've all looked up to her. We're all so excited to have her back in this locker room. She showed us that she has not lost a step at all at Elimination Chamber. The battle that she put on with Becky lynch was phenomenal. But it does make me hungrier and it does make me excited because she won't be the first legend I step into the ring for with. Remember when I had Trish Stratus in my arms and I ragged all her until she couldn't even really move anymore and then just Threw her right on the mat.
- [42:31]
Megan Morant
Yeah.
- [42:32]
Raquel Rodriguez
And no offense to AJ Lee, but what is she about the same size as Trish? I'd be happy to ragdoll her and send her home with CM Punk as soon as Dominic Mysterio is done with him again too. Or maybe even J.D. if J.D. wants to take a whack at it.
- [42:44]
Megan Morant
Yeah. And you know, and also, I don't know if we've mentioned on this interview, when you talk about Legends, you also did to Hannah bomb John Cena.
- [42:49]
Sam
Yes, that's true.
- [42:50]
Raquel Rodriguez
That's right. That's right. And I don't think John Cena is ever going to forget that. And if AJ Lee is smart, she'll call John Cena and ask him for tips, but he won't give her any because he got Tom the Hannah bombed.
- [43:00]
Megan Morant
That's true.
- [43:00]
Raquel Rodriguez
So he's got no tips for her.
- [43:03]
Megan Morant
How do you avoid that? I don't know. If I knew, I would have tried to avoid it.
- [43:06]
Raquel Rodriguez
He would have avoided it. But he did it. I mean, maybe he could tell her how bad it hu.
- [43:10]
Megan Morant
Maybe she can prep for that when you. Okay, let's get the crystal ball out. Let's say you are able to win this match on Monday Night Raw. You become the number one contender. Let's say you go on before WrestleMania and you're able to beat AJ Lee. You are walking into WrestleMania as Intercontinental Champion. Who is the woman that you would like to defend that title against at WrestleMania? Who do you have your moment with?
- [43:39]
Raquel Rodriguez
I get a little bit of a choice here.
- [43:41]
Megan Morant
Let's say, let's say.
- [43:44]
Raquel Rodriguez
Oh, that's a tough one, you know, because there are some women that I still would love to face and I don't think she'll be back in time for WrestleMania. But Bianca Belair, you know, if she can get that finger back to working, great. I would love to step into the ring with Bianca Belair. She's the only woman at the moment that I can think of who can give me some decent competition in the ring. So when the EST is ready and when Big Sexy is IC champion, then we'll talk.
- [44:09]
Megan Morant
Unbelievable. Well, Raquel, I, I, I very much appreciate you being so generous with your time. Especially, you know, when there are other things to figure out with the judgment day and, and, and, and, and where all that's going.
- [44:23]
Raquel Rodriguez
Don't you worry about that. Because next week when I win this, this multi woman match gimmick that's happening or whatever and I get my chance to have that icy title that is going to bring the family back together. That is what is going to put us back on the map. And Judgment Day is going to continue to run all of WWE like we have been doing this entire time. La Wedita is going to be champion. Big Sexy is going to be champion, and Sushi is going to be champion. We're all going to be champions, and then we're all going to laugh because it's going to be amazing. We're going to have a big party, and no one will be invited. But the Judgment Day.
- [44:56]
Megan Morant
You're not going to invite. You're not going to invite Danhausen into the clubhouse.
- [45:01]
Raquel Rodriguez
I mean, maybe if we want, like, some entertainment or something, you know, I want to see the guy do a little dance or maybe if he can make us laugh for some reason. But if he isn't going to bring anything to the table other than his weird makeup and that awkward feeling. No, he's not allowed in the clubhouse.
- [45:15]
Sam
Sorry. In the jar of teeth.
- [45:17]
Megan Morant
The teeth, too. He's got the teeth. Nobody wants that.
- [45:19]
Raquel Rodriguez
Megan, you want a jar of teeth? What are you going to do with a jar of teeth?
- [45:22]
Sam
No, I keep that far away from me. I don't want to get cursed. Yeah, so keep. Nobody wants.
- [45:26]
Megan Morant
No joke.
- [45:27]
Raquel Rodriguez
And whose teeth are they? You know, that's kind of gross and unsanitary. Can we talk about that?
- [45:31]
Megan Morant
No. That's right.
- [45:32]
Raquel Rodriguez
Tsa. Does he travel through tsa?
- [45:34]
Megan Morant
I don't know. I thought he traveled on a broomstick or something in a box and. Yeah, yeah, he was going. He was going down to town in that crate for a while. So maybe. I don't know. I don't know what his travel is.
- [45:44]
Raquel Rodriguez
That's interesting. I don't know where he keeps the jar of teeth in there. That doesn't say fragile anywhere on the box. Nothing's going to break easily. He's going to lose all those teeth.
- [45:52]
Megan Morant
That's right.
- [45:53]
Raquel Rodriguez
That's his hobby on the side, you know?
- [45:55]
Megan Morant
Yeah. Well, listen, I hope we're a week away. I hope we're a week away from you as number one contender. I hope we're a week away from the Judgment Day all together and enjoying everybody's glory. And, Raquel, we're going to take Hope
- [46:06]
Raquel Rodriguez
out and we're going to say we are a week away. All right. We are a week away from Raquel winning an opportunity at the IC title. That's what it is, doesn't it? That sounds better.
- [46:18]
Megan Morant
It does. Thank you, Raquel.
- [46:21]
Raquel Rodriguez
Thanks, guys.
- [46:23]
Sam
Thank you so much. To Raquel Rodriguez. We are all looking Forward to that gauntlet match next week. But I want to talk to you guys about some new T shirts that are available. As we all know, Seth Rollins made his return over the weekend at Elimination Chamber and he returned with a brand new authentic tee Dan. How officially arrived in WWE and very nice new shirt is available right now. AJ Lee celebrates her Intercontinental Championship win with a new winner. Tea. You don't want to miss out Shop. All the new arrivals now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. And by the way, yeah, it's March.
- [47:06]
Megan Morant
I know.
- [47:07]
Sam
It's a great month.
- [47:08]
Megan Morant
I know.
- [47:09]
Sam
Lots to celebrate.
- [47:10]
Megan Morant
Okay.
- [47:11]
Sam
Especially 316 day. It's almost here. The official Austin 316 what day t shirts are available for pre order right now.
- [47:24]
Megan Morant
What?
- [47:25]
Sam
Don't miss your chance to own the latest 316 release. Pre order yours today at WWE Shop and Fanatics. I feel like you set me up there.
- [47:34]
Megan Morant
What you.
- [47:37]
Sam
I think now I walked into that one.
- [47:39]
Megan Morant
Yeah, that one. I got you.
- [47:40]
Sam
But you set me up there because this is all AJ Lee winning the Intercontinental Championship. And I would just like to point out that Becky lynch filed an appeal with the Illinois State Athletic Commission. So this one's. It's far from over.
- [47:54]
Megan Morant
She should just gone to raw.
- [47:56]
Sam
She's got a lot to deal with.
- [47:58]
Megan Morant
Right? Right. Yeah. She could have just gone to RAW and maybe gotten involved in the number one contenders match.
- [48:04]
Sam
But why would she have to do that if she never really lost the title?
- [48:07]
Megan Morant
Was watching today really lost.
- [48:09]
Sam
And it. It pointed out how crooked Jessica Carr is.
- [48:13]
Megan Morant
Because that's weird.
- [48:14]
Sam
Way off.
- [48:14]
Megan Morant
How do you know it's not a rerun?
- [48:17]
Sam
Wasn't a re run?
- [48:18]
Megan Morant
Do you ever do that? You ever go like, oh, this is so crazy that Becky lynch is just doing the exact same vlog every single week.
- [48:24]
Sam
Very different this week.
- [48:25]
Megan Morant
Oh, what was different about it?
- [48:27]
Sam
Your boy Peter Rosenberg was in it.
- [48:29]
Megan Morant
Shout out.
- [48:30]
Sam
Shout out. Also Jealous Joe Test was in there. Was he very upset that he did not win a Bexy award?
- [48:37]
Megan Morant
Who's he jealous of?
- [48:38]
Sam
Me. He brought it up.
- [48:39]
Megan Morant
Come on.
- [48:39]
Sam
He brought it up. He said, why did Megan win the Bexie Award?
- [48:43]
Megan Morant
He really. Maybe he really is. He brought that up.
- [48:45]
Sam
Jealous Joe Test, because what'd you win?
- [48:46]
Megan Morant
Like broadcaster?
- [48:47]
Sam
Media personality of the year?
- [48:49]
Megan Morant
Best.
- [48:50]
Sam
The best media personality in the world. Jealous Joe Test. That's what I'm calling him. Everybody's calling him that.
- [48:56]
Megan Morant
He brought that up.
- [48:57]
Sam
He did.
- [48:57]
Megan Morant
Like, he didn't say, like, Becky didn't go, oh, are you jealous? He like just brought it up out of the blue brought it up, dog. Joe Test. Jealous.
- [49:04]
Sam
I know. Jealous Joe Test and you gotta start watching these vlogs.
- [49:09]
Megan Morant
I didn't know Jealous Joe test was on it.
- [49:11]
Sam
He was, yeah.
- [49:13]
Megan Morant
Does he know I want a Bexie? I think I want.
- [49:17]
Sam
He didn't bring you up. He's not jealous of you.
- [49:19]
Megan Morant
Well, mine were insulting Pexy's. It's like a razzie. You want an Oscar.
- [49:25]
Sam
You know, I think corrupt Casey will be up for one.
- [49:28]
Megan Morant
Oh, that's true. That's true. After Casey was was working against the Megan agenda.
- [49:33]
Sam
It was.
- [49:33]
Megan Morant
Yeah. Well, we have a gauntlet match next week to find out who the number one contender, AJ Lee. Regardless of Becky lynch doing God knows what, AJ Lee will be defending the intercontinental championship before Wrestlemania. I guess being a fighting champion must run in the family there in the Lee punk household because we've got a number one contenders gauntlet match next week. Lyra Valkyria Bailey, Iyo Sky, Raquel Reguez Oscar and Ivy Nile. And I mean the fact that we are indeed doing a gauntlet style, there are a lot of heavy hitters. I feel like in a match like this, Gauntlet does lean maybe a little bit in Raquel's favorite because Raquel is the type that she can put down a couple of power moves and end it quick. I know because I've played gauntlets in 2K.
- [50:36]
Sam
Yes.
- [50:36]
Megan Morant
So I understand the strategy in a gauntlet match. Okay.
- [50:39]
Sam
And the idea is you're an experienced gauntlet match.
- [50:43]
Megan Morant
Er, that's right. That's right. Performer.
- [50:45]
Sam
Yes.
- [50:46]
Megan Morant
I've performed in many gauntlet matches on 2K. Yes. All of them have been on 2K. But that's besides the point. But I got an advanced copy. Uh, I think that Raquel, that's the move that I do. Right. You try to cheese or get somebody with big power moves and do like as few moves as possible to win the match as quick as possible to leave as much energy. Cause otherwise your energy bar goes down. And that's what Rick, that's what. Whoever is in this match doesn't want their energy bar to go down. Raquel does have the offense that she's going to be able to put out the fewest moves to get the quickest result possible, which is very good in a gauntlet match.
- [51:27]
Sam
But for me, it's a motivated EOS guy that has the advantage. She lost her tag team title. Her best friend, Rhea Ripley is going to Wrestlemania. This is Iyo sky, who not only shocked the world and won the title on the way to WrestleMania last year, but then retained the title at WrestleMania. I think Iyo sky has a massive chip on her shoulder and she knows. She sees the writing on the wall. She knows this is her only way to get a match at WrestleMania.
- [51:53]
Megan Morant
That's what. Yeah, that's what it is. I don't know if it's a chip on her shoulder or if it's desperation. Yeah, either way, it can be effective. But I think that that's a great point that you bring up because I think that. And this is something I've been struggling with. I'm so excited for Rhea Ripley versus Jade Cargill. I'm so excited for Rhea Ripley to be back into singles championship competition. But I'm looking at the tag division, I'm looking at the Women's World Championship, I'm looking at the women's WWE Championship. And I'm looking at WrestleMania going, Does EO have a match? I know, and this is one of those. Like, this would be the alternative. And I mean, EO sky versus AJ Lee would be incredible.
- [52:35]
Sam
Amazing.
- [52:35]
Megan Morant
Raquel versus AJ Lee would be incredible. I mean, who knows? And who knows after that match what even happens to the Intercontinental champion going into WrestleMania? I think it's going to be very, very exciting. But I'll tell you what's also very, very exciting.
- [52:52]
Sam
What's that?
- [52:52]
Megan Morant
Tops now making moments commemorating moments. Tops now is going to commemorate Rhea Ripley and Randy orton's Elimination Chamber 2026 victories with limited cards. Lucky collectors who buy the base cards will have the chance to receive serial numbered parallels and even autograph version versions. Tops now also put cards out to celebrate Seth Rollins return CM Punk's victory and one other card. And I give you a hint as to what it is. It is very nice. The card's very nice, but very evil.
- [53:28]
Sam
Danhausen.
- [53:28]
Megan Morant
Danhausen has a Top now card. Yes. Dan Housen's debut gets a top snail card. And Danhausen. I feel, I hope, I hope that people got a better indication of who and more what Dan Housing is on Monday Night Raw. Because the conversation ran around Danhausen all week, all weekend, everywhere. Yeah, it's been everywhere. But I think. I think people weren't quite sure what they saw on Saturday. And the haters are going to be out there. And by the way, Danhausen haters, I'm collecting information and I won't allow them, you know, the grace you're keeping. Receipts, all the receipts. I got a backpack full of receipts. They call me Irwin R. Shyster. I got so many receipts. I got them all, okay? But I Think people are coming around on Danhausen, who showed up and he talked to Adam Pierce, who I think he thought was not Adam Pierce. I think he called him Cold Steve Austin.
- [54:31]
Sam
You're wearing the glasses.
- [54:32]
Megan Morant
Yeah, yeah. Disguise. And had his list of demands. And by the way, I'm gonna tell you something about Danhausen. I've been following his career for years. And there's one thing this guy's always wanted. A blimp.
- [54:45]
Sam
People call you Samhausen.
- [54:47]
Megan Morant
They've called me Sam Housen before. There have been, you know, pairings where that has been the pairing. Yes, but a blimp has always been on that list. He wants the triple H point picture that everybody gets, you know, he wants. He wants to be in the hall of Fame this year. We've got. We found out today, demolition going into the hall of Fame, which I'm super psyched about. We got Stephanie McMahon, we got AJ Styles. I'm hoping Danhausen also goes into the hall of Fame this year via the list that he did unfortunately drop in the toilet.
- [55:17]
Sam
Yeah, it was a crumbled up piece of paper.
- [55:20]
Megan Morant
Well, he only had the one.
- [55:21]
Sam
It almost looked like he. He wrote these items on the list in crayon or something.
- [55:26]
Megan Morant
Well, I don't know what writing utensil he had with him at the time. I don't think. I think that's neither here nor there. And he. I mean, he gave Adam Pierce the list. So you don't forget, you know, and I think that that's important.
- [55:37]
Sam
Yeah. You know, if you write things down, people typically remember emails get deleted.
- [55:42]
Megan Morant
I don't know if Dan Housing has email.
- [55:44]
Sam
No, I don't think so.
- [55:45]
Megan Morant
I don't think so.
- [55:46]
Sam
Text messages.
- [55:46]
Megan Morant
He doesn't text, I don't think. No, no, no.
- [55:48]
Sam
I mean, he lived for what, two weeks in a box?
- [55:51]
Megan Morant
Well, yeah. With 15 dancing downhouse Danhausen.
- [55:55]
Sam
And in a coffin.
- [55:56]
Megan Morant
In a coffin in the box with
- [55:57]
Sam
a jar of teeth.
- [55:59]
Megan Morant
Well, he keeps it. That jar teeth travels with him everywhere. He collects them.
- [56:03]
Sam
It's like his binky that he has to bring with him everywhere he goes.
- [56:06]
Megan Morant
I think there are multiple jars of teeth.
- [56:08]
Sam
Speaking of collecting, where's little Sam?
- [56:10]
Megan Morant
Oh, I think he's. I guess he's taking a nap. Yeah. Yeah. I think. You know what? I think little Sam should start carrying around a little jar of teeth.
- [56:18]
Sam
That would be a nice addition.
- [56:19]
Megan Morant
I think. So maybe next year they could.
- [56:21]
Sam
They could make that. You could. You could talk to all the Mattel guys.
- [56:24]
Megan Morant
But. But I don't think. By the way, it's it's not like a binky because there's multiple jars of teeth, I think, because, like, he didn't. He didn't take back. He doesn't do take backsies. So I think Michael Cole got to keep the jar of teeth that Michael Cole got at elimination Chamber.
- [56:38]
Sam
So he's giving them out now like gift baskets or like candles, I guess so.
- [56:41]
Megan Morant
I mean, he's got all these jars of teeth. What's he gonna keep them all? You know what I mean?
- [56:45]
Sam
Might be special. Any of significance.
- [56:47]
Megan Morant
Well, and he did call him Michael Colehausen on Twitter, so he probably does. Maybe he has an affinity for Michael Cole, but it seemed like he had an affinity for the Judgment Day. He was being very polite because he's very nice, but very evil as well. And so it's. It seems like. See, they're calling me Sam Housing. Already I have a lower third that's been made up, you know, And I am. I'm like Danhausen in the sense that I have powers, but all my powers are for lower thirds. You know, that. That's really where my power is limited to. But I could just create lower thirds, you know, And I mean, as a broadcaster, it is a pretty good power.
- [57:20]
Sam
I mean, I. I can't think of how else it would be useful. Luckily, I'm looking for a broadcaster.
- [57:26]
Megan Morant
Yeah, yeah, it's the best.
- [57:27]
Sam
Very useful.
- [57:28]
Megan Morant
So, anyway, lower third. Let's see.
- [57:34]
Sam
There.
- [57:35]
Raquel Rodriguez
Go.
- [57:35]
Sam
See, here it goes. See, it took a minute.
- [57:38]
Megan Morant
If it takes a minute. I literally created a lower third out of thin air.
- [57:42]
Sam
I can't.
- [57:42]
Megan Morant
And you're going, tick a minute. It took for a minute. Lower third. See? I mean, that's impressive.
- [57:49]
Sam
Amazing.
- [57:50]
Megan Morant
That's impressive.
- [57:51]
Sam
Amazing.
- [57:51]
Megan Morant
Thank you. Thank you. And I know. And all the guys in the control room are just sitting there going like. I don't know.
- [57:57]
Sam
They actually just said in my ear, like, can you move it along, Megan?
- [58:01]
Megan Morant
Well, yeah, I get it, but. Because they're jealous because I create my own lower thirds now. But, but, but. But I say all that to say Danhausen was very impressed by Dominic Mysterio's championships and asked if he could have one to which. Which I thought was very. I mean, at least he's speaking from the heart. Dominic said, they know he can't.
- [58:22]
Sam
He said, this is as close as you'll ever get to one of these.
- [58:24]
Megan Morant
I'm surprised. I was kind of surprised that Dominic didn't hit him with a. That's enough.
- [58:30]
Sam
But he did an interesting spot for you because you. You love Danhausen. So much. But you also.
- [58:34]
Megan Morant
I love.
- [58:35]
Sam
I love Dominic Mysterio.
- [58:37]
Megan Morant
Dominic Housen would be awesome, but. Yeah, no, I do. I do. I lied. I. When. When Danhausen cursed Dominic Mysterio, I was torn. It was really, really difficult for me. You know, Dominic going out there with the Judgment Day for his match with Penta. Penta has not taken kindly in the past. To me, being a Dominik Mysterio fan,
- [59:00]
Sam
every time he sees you, calls you out for it.
- [59:01]
Megan Morant
He does. Every time. Well, and it is what it is. But Dominik Mysterio, at the end of that match, asking for the Hammer, Finn Balor and JD McDonough are out there just to give him support because he said he wanted to do it on his own. But also he changed his mind. And people are allowed to change their minds.
- [59:21]
Sam
JD's a real brother. He didn't question for a second, got up, went and got the hammer about to give it to him. But Finn wanted to hold Dominic accountable.
- [59:31]
Megan Morant
And it's like, bro, that's not what I'm looking for, bro. Like, hold me accountable some other time. And by the way, because Finn was trying to, you know, be the teacher or something, for whatever reason, they both end up getting taken out by Penta. They could have been celebrating with gold and instead this happens.
- [59:47]
Sam
Well, there was a moment on Saturday at Elimination Chamber where Finn stopped and looked for the Judgment Day and then continued to proceed on his own.
- [59:55]
Megan Morant
I don't think he was looking for them. I think he was stopping to consider it and then deciding not to ask for the Judgment Day.
- [60:02]
Sam
That's right. Dominic didn't consider. He asked immediately.
- [60:06]
Megan Morant
Well, yeah, because that's what he wanted. That's how he wanted to defend his title. He's a defending champion, and I think that that's fine. If you want to use a hammer, use a hammer. It ain't cheating unless you get caught. You didn't know that. And if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.
- [60:20]
Sam
It's interesting because whenever. Whenever Becky lynch tries extra hard, you. You seem to always.
- [60:26]
Megan Morant
Well, she loses.
- [60:28]
Sam
No.
- [60:29]
Megan Morant
Okay, well, Saturday is an example. Well, there was nothing going on.
- [60:33]
Sam
It was a crooked referee.
- [60:35]
Megan Morant
Who?
- [60:36]
Sam
Jessica Carr.
- [60:37]
Megan Morant
Oh, crooked. I forgot. I forgot about that. Dominic Mysterio loses the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Huge moment. And by the way, I am a Penta fan.
- [60:46]
Sam
First time he defended it since he won it back from.
- [60:48]
Megan Morant
He's literally been injured. You want him to defend the title while he' not cleared to wrestle? Is that what you want?
- [60:53]
Sam
I would like the Intercontinental title to be defended and now it will because Penta is a fighting.
- [60:58]
Megan Morant
It was defended a lot and then he was injured and now it's being defended again. Penta as Intercontinental Champion is cool.
- [61:06]
Sam
It's amazing. It's his first title in wwe. I think when Penta came to WWE was like the second week. I think WWE is on Netflix.
- [61:15]
Megan Morant
Yeah, Second Netflix.
- [61:17]
Sam
And immediately from the entrance we were all just, wow, Penta grabbed. I mean, I didn't follow Penta. You've been following Penta's career for a long time.
- [61:26]
Megan Morant
Oh yeah.
- [61:26]
Sam
But I was introduced to Penta and immediately just had this connection with him. And now to see him in WWE as a champion and as an Intercontinental champion, the things he can do in the ring. I'm, I'm so excited to see what's next for Penta and what this reign looks like.
- [61:44]
Megan Morant
I can't. I, I think the rain's going to be short. I think Dominic's going to win it back real quick. Real quick. He, I mean, let's pour one out one time for the greatest Intercontinental Championship title reign of all time. That was Dominic Mysterio. Thank you. In the control room, Alex is pouring one out because he knows we got to bear witness to the greatest Intercontinental title reign of all time. And you know, the only time was
- [62:07]
Sam
the first reign, the greatest, and then he lost it to Cena and this was the second reign where he never defended it. The greatest.
- [62:14]
Megan Morant
Both. It's all kind of one big thing.
- [62:16]
Sam
It's all one to you. You don't count the fact that he lost it to Cena.
- [62:19]
Megan Morant
No, because he beat Cena.
- [62:20]
Sam
Well, he got it back.
- [62:21]
Megan Morant
But I mean, listen, you, I dare you to try to discredit Dominic Mysterio for beating John Cena.
- [62:30]
Sam
I'm not going to.
- [62:32]
Megan Morant
You know, that's not the, that's not the. This, this isn't the only big competition.
- [62:37]
Sam
No, no. There's a big competition coming up this summer at Fanatics Fest.
- [62:42]
Megan Morant
Really?
- [62:43]
Sam
The number one sports fan festival is back. It returned to the Javits center in New York City from July 16th through the 19th. And fanatics just announced. Sam, this is a big deal. The return of Fanatics Games. You and I were a part of that last year. They're bringing back the high stakes cross sports competition where everyday fans get to go head to head with some of the biggest names in sports. The 2026 Fanatics Games introduces an expanded format, a $2 million total prize pool and new nationwide qualifying opportunities for fans to compete alongside elite at Elite athletes. The inaugural winner, Tom Brady, as well as reigning fan champion Matt Denish will be back. And WWE Superstars Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Cody Rhodes and Jay USO will be joining the competition for a shot at the title. Head on over to fanaticsfest.com to apply to compete or grab your tickets to Fanatics fast. You don't want to miss out.
- [63:46]
Megan Morant
No, you really don't. You got to be in New York July 16th through the 19th, but you got to be in Las Vegas April 16th through the 20th. Why is that? Because WWE World is returning to Las Vegas April 16th through the 20th and it's the can't miss destination during WrestleMania week. WWE World brings the WWE Universe closer than ever to the superstars, legends and iconic moments that define wwe with immersive exhibits, exclusive merchandise and experiences you're just not gonna find anywhere else you can see Superstars like Drew McIntyre, Liv Morgan, Jay Uso, Dominic Mysterio, Tiffany Stratton and many more. With even more appearances still to come, who knows, maybe that Danhausen will be there. Love that Danhausen. Tickets are now sale@wweweworld.com Save 10% with promo code WWE NOW10. Get to WWE World. I hope to have the opportunity to be there myself alongside you, Mega Moranpa before we get there. That's of course a big part of WrestleMania weekend and we are still trying to see what WrestleMania is going to look like. I think. Hopefully Smackdown paints a much clearer picture.
- [64:57]
Sam
Yeah. Because the WWE Championship is on the line.
- [64:59]
Megan Morant
This is crazy. On Friday night, the match was made official on the Post show in a fit of rage by Nick Aldis. Sick of Drew McIntyre interfering in the rumble and interfering in the chamber and interfering in the qualifying matches and Drew McIntyre trying to take his reign in his own hands and not open it up to the field. Nick Aldis showed up on the Post show and made it official this Friday night. Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre. The match that Drew McIntyre did not want to happen is happening. Undisputed. WWE Championship is on the line. Randy Orton won the elimination Chamber. Michael Cole said it on Raw tonight. He said after the Elimination Chamber, he said, Drew McIntyre versus Randy Orton is your WWE championship match at WrestleMania. But it may not be Megan after all this time. After two months with Drew as champion, Cody Rhodes still may walk into WrestleMania as WWE champ.
- [66:07]
Sam
I mean, it's insane to think about. It's insane to think about Drew after everything he's been through and his goal of becoming WWE champion. Walking into WrestleMania as a champion that could slip through his fingertips if Cody Rhodes is to defeat Drew McIntyre on Friday Night Smackdown. I mean, this is going to be insane. And you also think about other people who have been involved with this. I wonder, you know, Jacob Fatu, he's had issues with Drew McIntyre. He's had issues with Cody Rhodes. It's not about Cody Rhodes, but there's been.
- [66:41]
Megan Morant
Well, I think he's going to have something to say about the fact that he has been specifically saying he wants to get his hands on Drew McIntyre and Nick Aldis has made this match with Cody Rhodes. And I think that there's logic to that. You know, I mean, Jacob Fatu was screwed out of a couple qualifiers, but, you know, I think between Cody. Here's the thing. Cody got screwed out of the Royal Rumble.
- [67:02]
Sam
Yes.
- [67:03]
Megan Morant
By Drew McIntyre, who was not in the match. Then he got screwed out of the elimination chamber. Drew McIntyre provided the distraction that allowed Randy Orton, that viper that he is, to strike. I think that. That some will tell you, well, what do you mean? Cody doesn't have a rematch? Cody doesn't have a rematch. This isn't a rematch. This is. This is Drew McIntyre who is going out of his way to curate his list of challengers, which a champion should not be able to pick and choose who the challengers are. The people who deserve the matches are the ones that should get the match. And I think Nick Aldis has seen that clearly. Him saying, hey, Drew, knock it off is not going to work. Cody Rhodes being provided the same opportunities that other superstars are being provided is not going to work. So it's time to take matters into his own hands, settle this once and for all. Oh, and by the way, we get to watch a Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre WWE Championship match on a smackdown. That's awesome.
- [68:05]
Sam
Can you imagine if the championship changes on The Road to WrestleMania?
- [68:09]
Megan Morant
Yes, it's Cody Rhodes. Of course I can imagine that. Of course I can imagine that. And Drew McIntyre is going to be murderous if that happens. But I think it's very possible, I think that Cody Rhodes does not lose very often.
- [68:22]
Sam
No.
- [68:23]
Megan Morant
And I think that when he does lose, you can usually trace it back to some kind of interference, some kind of screw job, some kind of whatever it is. So it'll be very interesting to see how all parties get themselves into the ring and what happens Friday night. I cannot wait for Cody and Drew and finding out who walks in to WrestleMania as WWE Champion. We'll be here to talk about it all next Monday, if not before. Make sure you're subscribed across all audio platforms. Make sure you're leaving comments and hitting, like, on YouTube. And we will see you next week after Raw right here on WWE now.