The Bill Simmons Podcast — December 5, 2025

Episode: An NBA Six-Pack, Netflix’s WBD Pursuit, NFL Picks, and John Cena Finally Stops By
Guests: Joe House, Matt Belloni, John Cena

Overview

Bill Simmons delivers a “megapod” packed with four main segments:

• A spirited “NBA Six-Pack” with Joe House covering the league’s biggest stories and MVP races
• NFL betting insights and picks for the weekend with Joe House
• An in-depth analysis of the historic Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) deal with Matt Belloni
• A candid, reflective, and wide-ranging interview with wrestling superstar John Cena on the eve of his (actual?) retirement

Throughout, Simmons mixes stats, storytelling, culture commentary, and insider jokes, creating an engaging, fast-flowing listen for hardcore and casual sports fans alike.

Segment Breakdown & Key Highlights

1. NBA “Six-Pack” With Joe House (05:55 – 34:00)

Main Theme:

A six-topic runthrough of the most "buzzworthy" moments in the NBA season so far, plus some early MVP/MIP assessments and trade speculation.

Key Points:

• Shea Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP Reign (06:44)

  • Simmons lauds Shea’s “assassin” offensive game (“his facial expression never changes”) and notes historical per-36 scoring comps:

    “He’s missed half the season in the fourth quarter… He’s shooting 55%... on pace for a 75-win season… I don’t see a scenario where he’s not the MVP again.” — Bill (08:25)

• MVP Discussion: Jokic, Giannis (08:36)

  • House points out Jokic’s “compelling case” and the need to properly respect the Joker if the Nuggets reach 55+ wins.

• Giannis Trade Watch (11:00)

  • Simmons and House debate hypothetical trade destinations—Atlanta, Houston, the ever-tempting Miami.

    “The Miami piece of it... the Bucks, if he picks, if he decides he wants to go and tells them the team, they'll try to get a deal done out of respect.” — Bill (14:20)

• Dallas Mavericks & Cooper Flagg (15:39)

  • Flag and Anthony Davis’s on-court pairing gets analysis, with Simmons saying he wouldn’t trade Davis now, seeing “poise” from rookies like Flag and Canipple.

• Rookie Impressions: Flag, Canipple, Edgecomb (17:33)

  • “Flag and Canipple have both looked like they're 27 years old in some of these games... They arrived in the NBA ready to play.” — House (17:41)
  • House compares Canipple’s movement to Havlicek, while Simmons sees Tatum-like offensive growth in Flag.

• Boston Celtics Without Tatum (19:11)

  • Simmons is “more confident than ever” Tatum will return, praising Jaylen Brown's improvement and Celtics’ offensive identities (“he's gone up a level… shooting, shot selection, mid-range”).

• NBA Cup Matchups & ‘Vibes’ Teams (28:07)

  • House and Simmons rank upcoming Cup games, praise surprise teams like Orlando and discuss “the Colin Gillespie effect” as a transformative chemistry thing for the Suns/Clippers.
  • “Every team that [Dylan] Brooks is on really, really, really tries.” — Bill (29:43)

• Scotty Barnes Award (32:39)

  • Simmons: “An award for ‘I never really liked watching you, but now I do’ — I'd give it to Scotty Barnes this year. Something clicked.” (32:45)

2. NFL Picks/“Ringer 107” With Joe House (35:58 – 65:00)

Main Theme:

Breaking down the NFL’s biggest storylines as the playoff picture crystallizes, accompanied by a detailed run-through of betting lines, situational trends, and the “parlay pile.”

Key Picks & Insights:

• Bears +6.5 at Packers (“Too many points… love their run game in cold weather.”)
• Texans +7.5 & Under 49.5 at Chiefs (“Texans are a live dog. Chief OL issues, cold weather, playoff urgency for Houston.”)
• Jags +1.5 at Colts (“Jacksonville always plays Indy tough at home, bad weather plays to Jags’ strengths.”)
• Eagles -2.5 at Chargers (“Feels like stealing to get the Eagles for less than a field goal with the Herbert injury.”)
• Jets +3 vs. Dolphins (“Tua in cold weather… why not ride the Jets wave?”)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments:

• “Green Bay is great when they're an underdog... but by this number, they flat out just don't cover, don't come close to covering.” — House (52:37)
• On the Texans: “I think they're really good and I think they're going to make the playoffs, which means they have to win this game.” — Bill (59:02)
• On parlay strategies: “I don't want to make two team combinations anymore with our parlays… but if you want to do a Houston-adjusted line combo, that makes sense.” — House (60:00)

Tone/Style:

Data-heavy but funny, with Simmons and House trading barbs on coaching decisions (“secret tank team”), over/unders, and classic parlay heartbreaks.

3. Media Industry Deep-Dive: Netflix’s Pursuit of Warner Bros./HBO With Matt Belloni (71:33 – 106:11)

Main Theme:

The podcast’s midsection delivers an accessible yet nuanced breakdown of the Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery shocker: what’s at stake, who’s bidding, and what it all means for Hollywood and sports streaming.

Key Discussion Points:

• Deal Structure & Players

  • Three main suitors: Paramount (with deep Trump ties and “easiest path” for regulatory approval), Netflix (streaming behemoth with antitrust worries; possibly motivated by defense/offense, per Belloni), and Comcast/Peacock (has “the most to gain”).
  • Paramount’s accusation: WBD process “rigged” toward Netflix for cozy executive jobs.

• Strategic Implications for Netflix

  • Netflix “has never bought anything,” is proud of its organic growth, and may be acting as a defensive move to block Paramount from becoming a 1B competitor.
  • “The streaming wars are over. If Netflix gets Warner Brothers… it is like the ultimate flex.” — Belloni (87:25)
  • Discussion on possible regulatory hurdles, carveouts (e.g., spinning off HBO Max), and how the legacy of beloved brands like HBO could be at risk.

• Industry Culture & Talent Impact

  • Issue of media mergers’ “terrible track record” assimilating cultures.
  • What happens to iconic shows and the “HBO batting average” versus “the sea of slop” (Netflix’s volume approach):

    “HBO is more like a closer… Netflix is trying to be a 250-inning starter.” — Bill (86:53)

• Sports Rights & Streaming

  • How acquiring WB means an influx of some sports properties for Netflix (March Madness, MLB, etc.), but not the “Big Two”—NBA, NFL.
  • Speculation about the future of Warner Bros. theatrical releases under Netflix.

Notable Quotes/Exchanges:

• “There’s a letter from Paramount today… accusing them of rigging the process for Netflix.” — Belloni (74:25)
• “The scariest thing you said was HBO getting absorbed into Netflix as just a tile. That reminds me of WWE buying WCW.” — Bill (83:54)

4. John Cena Interview: Candid Reflections on Wrestling, Retirement, & Legacy (107:26 – 207:59)

Main Theme:

John Cena, in his first Bill Simmons Podcast appearance, sits down for a deeply self-aware look at his career, wrestling’s evolution, and his hard-won decision to retire—really.

Structure & Highlights:

• Retirement – Is It Real? (124:22, 155:08)

  • Cena doubles down: “You’ll know I’m serious when I never come back… I want to do it forever, but my body hurts. I promised myself and the fanbase—when I’m a step slower, I’m out.”
  • “It has taken a lot to just do 35 dates. I used to do 220 in my sleep. It’s time to move on.” (126:31)

• The Wrestling Boom & His Place In It (113:26, 119:10)

  • Cena tracks the history of WWE booms (Hogan-era, Attitude Era, the present), how media changes have expanded the business, and how today’s talent is “getting paid a whole lot more than I was.”

• Approach to Career & Psychology of Wrestling (143:35)

  • Deep dive into match psychology, “selling for the other guy,” why jealousy forms most feuds, and why he rejected the classic territorial politics.
  • “The match with Brock after the Undertaker streak—I wanted the crowd to be uncomfortable. That was the design. It’s not always about both guys looking good.” (135:21)

• Mentors & Lessons (167:48)

  • Vince McMahon: “He was just really kind with his time… Great at giving explanations. He had a fluency about the entire business.” (168:19)
  • Undertaker: “The most respected personality in the locker room… I had my first drink with the Undertaker. He told me: Always take care of your crew. Never say goodbye.” (187:12)

• Legacy, Power & Leaving on His Own Terms (147:49, 156:00, 206:05)

  • On wrestling’s meritocracy: “Best person, best idea wins… I believe sports entertainment is the perfect meritocracy because of the noise.”
  • “When it’s time for me to go, I’ll go.”
  • Simmons: “How many people get to retire on their own terms and are actually happy with how it played out?”
  • Cena: “I will be very good on the 13th, knowing I gave the best I could this year… I hope it stands the test of time.” (206:39)

Notable Light Moments:

• Cena on taking thousands of photos with kids: “I’d like to think, from the second I was asked to take the first picture to right now… I have taken as many as I possibly can.” (121:48)
• Cena’s playful refusal to give his “Mount Rushmore” of wrestlers (“Come on, Lincoln wrestled a bear!”), but puts over Seth Rollins and Shawn Michaels as two of the best. (182:00)
• Cena’s final career advice: “Always take care of your crew. Never say goodbye.” (188:06)

Tone & Style:

Reflective, generous, honest, with the typical Cena humility and showman’s wit. There’s interplay between the physical grind, the artistry, and the business; a clear sense of context—for himself and wrestling’s role in pop culture.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “I don’t see a scenario where Shea’s not the MVP again.”
  — Bill Simmons, (08:25), on SGA’s historic run

• “The streaming wars are over if Netflix gets Warner Brothers… it’s the ultimate flex.”
  — Matt Belloni, (87:25)

• “You know how you see who someone really is? Give them power. Or take it away.”
  — John Cena, (147:49)

• “When it’s time for you to go, everybody goes, man.”
  — John Cena, on Vince McMahon and succession, (191:27)

• “How many people get to retire on their own terms and are actually happy with how it played out?”
  — Bill Simmons, (204:44)

Table of Contents With Timestamps

• 00:00 — Episode tease/intros (skip promos)
• 05:55 — NBA Six-Pack w/ Joe House (main discussion starts here)
• 35:58 — NFL Week Preview, Ringer 107 picks
• 71:33 — Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery Deep Dive w/ Matt Belloni
• 107:26 — John Cena Interview: Legacy, psychology, retirement
• 206:05 — Cena on closing chapters, patience, lasting impact
• 208:02 — Closing thanks, plug for next week

Final Summary

An episode overflowing with substance for sports, media, and wrestling fans alike. Simmons engineers a seamless blend of number crunching, trade theorizing, industry analysis, and personal storytelling—topped off with a landmark, soul-baring appearance from John Cena. Essential listening for anyone following the NBA and NFL playoff pushes, the future of streaming media, or the end of an era in pro wrestling.

(For quick reference to major segments, start at 05:55 for NBA, 35:58 for NFL, 71:33 for Belloni/media, 107:26 for Cena)