PMS 2.0 1328 - Mania Overreaction Monday Live from WWE World in Las Vegas, John Cena, Paul Heyman, Sam Roberts, Michael Cole, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1328

Episode Overview The Pat McAfee Show’s episode titled "PMS 2.0 1328 - Mania Overreaction Monday Live from WWE World in Las Vegas", released on April 21, 2025, presents an in-depth discussion surrounding the electrifying events of WrestleMania 28. Hosted by Pat McAfee alongside co-hosts AJ Hawk, the Toxic Table, and Tone Digs, the episode delves into the controversial title win by John Cena, the emergence of new champions, and the broader implications for the professional wrestling landscape. Additionally, the show touches upon recent NBA and NHL playoff outcomes, providing a multifaceted sports analysis.

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1. WrestleMania 28 Highlights and Reactions

The episode kicks off with Pat McAfee setting the stage for WrestleMania’s aftermath, highlighting John Cena’s unprecedented 17th world championship win.

• John Cena’s Controversial Victory

  • Pat McAfee [00:00]: “John Cena has surpassed Ric Flair as a 17-time world champion, the most in professional wrestling history. However, his victory was marred by controversy as he utilized an illegal object while the referee was incapacitated.”
  • Pat McAfee [03:43]: “Congrats to Dirty Dom, that was awesome.”

• Michael Cole’s Analysis

  • Michael Cole [02:01]: “John Cena winning a 17th world title in controversial fashion. But Ric Flair was the dirtiest player in the game with many of his 16 world titles.”

• New Champions Announced

  • Michael Cole [03:09]: “Dominik Mysterio, despite controversies, has emerged as the Intercontinental Champion.”
  • Mike Cole [04:35]: “Jey Uso is the new World Heavyweight Champion, marking his 13th title.”

2. Interview with John Cena

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to an exclusive interview with John Cena, where Pat McAfee probes into Cena’s motivations and future plans.

• Cena’s Emotional Disclosure

  • Pat McAfee [15:36]: “When you made the decision to kick Cody Rhodes directly in the groin, was that just the beginning of the mind games?”
  • John Cena [16:11]: “I've done a lot of work on myself to make sure that I'm okay with me... I've been on a hell of a ride.”

• Discussion on Retirement and Legacy

  • John Cena [21:32]: “I'm going to shut it down. I'm going to ruin wrestling.”
  • John Cena [24:45]: “I'm going to take my piece of the business home with me and it won't be the same without me.”

• Final Statements and Departure

  • John Cena [26:45]: “I've been honest and vulnerable with the audience. I'm just not meshing well with you guys... I'm going to shut it down.”
  • Pat McAfee [27:15]: “Thank you for handling that situation.”

3. Panel Discussion and Reactions

Following Cena’s interview, the panel engages in a heated debate about Cena’s statements and the future of WWE.

• Michael Cole’s Defense of Cena

  • Michael Cole [21:56]: “John Cena is the greatest of all time. Despite the controversial win, his legacy remains untarnished.”

• Paul Heyman’s Perspective

  • Paul Heyman [74:03]: “John Cena, with the help of Travis Scott, is ruining wrestling.”
  • Paul Heyman [90:00]: “Cody was there... John Cena ruins WrestleMania.”

• AJ Hawk’s Critique

  • AJ Hawk [73:39]: “Everything that you do is aimed at making your own legacy, ignoring the traditions of storytelling and respect in wrestling.”

4. Sports Segment: NBA and NHL Playoffs

The show transitions to a brief analysis of recent NBA and NHL playoff outcomes.

• NBA Insights

  • Ty Schmidt [08:14]: “The Timberwolves beat the Lakers by 23 points. The Nuggets showcased incredible gameplay, with Jokic putting up 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists.”

• NHL Playoff Highlights

  • Connor [11:20]: “All the favorites won in the NHL playoffs. Teams like the Avalanche and Jets are performing exceptionally well.”

5. Logan Paul’s WWE Superstar Status

Logan Paul’s involvement in WWE is a focal point, examining his athleticism and fan reception.

• John Cena’s Praise for Logan Paul

  • John Cena [35:34]: “Logan Paul is an incredible athlete and a tremendous businessman. Whether you like him or hate him, he belongs in the WWE ring.”

• Discussion on Logan Paul’s Performance

  • Pat McAfee [36:50]: “Logan Paul caught a drone mid-match, showcasing his unique approach and athletic prowess.”

6. Future of WWE and Industry Shifts

The conversation broadens to discuss the creative direction of WWE and the impact of behind-the-scenes changes.

• Paul Heyman on Creative Changes

  • Paul Heyman [83:49]: “We’ve brought this business forward into an atmosphere that’s sophisticated and engaging for the audience.”

• AJ Hawk on Industry Evolution

  • AJ Hawk [93:32]: “The public is the ultimate judge. If you sell successfully, you’re doing it right; if not, you need to change.”

7. Upcoming Events and Closing Remarks

Pat McAfee wraps up the episode by previewing upcoming shows and expressing gratitude to guests and the audience.

• Preview of Monday Night Raw

  • Pat McAfee [45:15]: “Tonight on Netflix, 8PM Eastern, Raw After Mania will feature Paul Heyman’s explanations and further developments.”

• Acknowledgments and Farewell

  • Pat McAfee [104:49]: “Thank you to all the superstars, crew members, and fans. Enjoy the rest of WrestleMania weekend.”

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Notable Quotes

• John Cena on Legacy:

  • [24:45]: “You can't knock my hustle. You can't knock my loyalty to this company or brand.”

• Michael Cole on Cena’s Title Win:

  • [02:01]: “Ric Flair was considered one of the all-time greats. So I do think that John Cena is the goat, despite how he went around all this.”

• Paul Heyman on WWE Evolution:

  • [83:49]: “We’ve brought this business forward into an atmosphere that’s sophisticated and that the audience can get emotionally invested into.”

• AJ Hawk on Wrestling Tradition:

  • [35:33]: “It's the foundation of storytelling, the foundation of physical fundamentals. We had the right mentors.”

• Pat McAfee on John Cena’s Impact:

  • [25:27]: “John Cena is the greatest of all time. No, no, no, that's greatest of all time.”

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Conclusion

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show offers a comprehensive and vibrant analysis of WrestleMania 28’s outcomes, illuminating John Cena’s controversial title reign and his intricate relationship with fans and the WWE establishment. Through candid interviews and spirited panel discussions, the show encapsulates the tension and excitement surrounding the future of professional wrestling. Additionally, the inclusion of broader sports topics provides listeners with a well-rounded perspective on current athletic events. Emphasizing entertainment and insider insights, The Pat McAfee Show delivers a unique and engaging experience for both wrestling aficionados and general sports enthusiasts.

Transcript

[Pat McAfee]

Hello, beautiful people, and welcome back to Las Vegas, Nevada on this mania overreaction. Monday, April 21, 2025. This program starts now. Mania was awesome. A two night spectacle where new dreams are coming true, new storylines are developing, and a goat has officially broken a record that we thought would never be touched. Yes, Alexander Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's goal scoring a week ago. But John Cena has surpassed Ric FLAIR As a 17 time world champion, the most in the history of the professional wrestling world. Now, it came in a way that not a lot of people would have hoped for. John Cena, he actually utilized the title, an illegal object. While the ref was down and out, John Cena took advantage. And John Cena said, cody Rhodes, your story might have ended a year ago, but tonight you are just on the wrong side of a historic chapter in John Cena becoming the certified goat. A lot of people are upset about the way that whole thing went down. Yeah, we'll talk to John Cena in 14 minutes. On this particular program. He had a press conference last night. He did not say much. He did allude to the fact he'll be talking tonight at Monday Night Raw. But how will he handle himself? Right here in the Blender at the WWE World after a magical weekend, there's new champions. Joining us is a man who just got done calling his 28th WrestleMania the greatest of all time. The voice of the WWE, Michael Cole. A lot of things happened this weekend, Cole. Indeed they did.

[Michael Cole]

And What a wonderful WrestleMania.

[Pat McAfee]

Let it eat.

[Ty Schmidt]

Hell yeah, Cole.

[Michael Cole]

John Cena winning a 17th world title in controversial fashion. But I said it last night, no matter what you think about how it ended, Ric Flair was the dirtiest player in the game in many of the 16 world titles.

[Pat McAfee]

He kicked so many dicks, he punched so many balls.

[Michael Cole]

Yep, he did. And Ric Flair was considered one of the all time greats. So I do think that John Cena is the goat, despite how he went around all this. But I think the most exciting part for me for the weekend were the new champions that were crowned. Dominik Mysterio. Despite what you feel about her.

[Ty Schmidt]

There it is.

[AJ Hawk]

Wow.

[Michael Cole]

Brand new intercom.

[Pat McAfee]

Respect.

[AJ Hawk]

Respect.

[Pat McAfee]

Respect.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, indeed.

[AJ Hawk]

General respect.

[Pat McAfee]

General. Oh, dirty. Now he's over. Wow. Wow.

[Ty Schmidt]

Makes sense.

[Pat McAfee]

Congrats to dirty ass. Disgusting ass, Dumbass. Dom, that was awesome.

[Michael Cole]

And also the man who I believe is going to be the next superstar in this business, Jacob Fatu.

[Pat McAfee]

He is our new United States champion. And I live in Indiana, you live in Texas. These people live all over the country. He is now our champion of America. And I can get down with Jacob Fatu leading the way, no doubt. Who else? Cole.

[Michael Cole]

We've got a. I had a tremendous match to kick off the show last night. Iyo sky retaining her championship against Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. That was a heck of a match. Becky lynch returned.

[John Cena]

Hell yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

That man has come back around. Is now a tag team champion with Lyra Valkyria.

[AJ Hawk]

Dog.

[Michael Cole]

Logan Paul Wins again at WrestleMania talent. Hey, he is. Boo all you want. He is one heck of an athlete and a tremendous businessman.

[Pat McAfee]

And he caught a drone.

[Darius Butler]

He did.

[Ty Schmidt]

It was sweet.

[Pat McAfee]

Just said, come to me, drone. And a drone came all over. Worked.

[Michael Cole]

Tiffany Stratton arrived on the big stage with a win over Charlotte Flair.

[Pat McAfee]

1, 2, 3.

[Connor]

It was hard to tell which box she was in. By the way, I was on your page.

[Pat McAfee]

It was the middle box. It was the middle box.

[Michael Cole]

That's why you're the best analyst in the game. Like I said, Jade Cargill did wonderful against Naomi.

[Darius Butler]

Yup.

[AJ Hawk]

Weapon athlete.

[Michael Cole]

Unfortunately, Rey Mysterio got hurt, but he was replaced by Rey Fenix to take on El Grande Americano.

[Pat McAfee]

Who?

[Michael Cole]

Chad Gable once again.

[Darius Butler]

We don't know that.

[AJ Hawk]

We don't know that.

[Ty Schmidt]

You see the intro? That wasn't him.

[Michael Cole]

We have a brand new World Heavyweight champion.

[Pat McAfee]

What's his name?

[Michael Cole]

His name is main event. Jey Uso. The new day. Eating the new day with a 13th title.

[Pat McAfee]

Hell yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Hell yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Elvin.

[Michael Cole]

And of course, Damian priest. Drew McIntyre with an unbelievable Sin City fight.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, you talk about absolute cinema. A lot of people were saying that might have been the best match in the history of WrestleMania. I'm right there with him.

[Pat McAfee]

Damian Priest. True McIntyre. Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, if you're going to come.

[Ty Schmidt]

To Sin City, two tables.

[Darius Butler]

Not one, not one, not two, three tables. There's only two right there. But I think someone else went through one as well. You know, we were hoping that they would maybe mix it up in our section a little bit. I was looking to, you know, give a couple taters to. To Drew McIntyre.

[Michael Cole]

Oh, yeah. That go over well?

[Darius Butler]

Well, it didn't get over that far, but yeah, in. In my humble opinion, maybe the best match in the history of WrestleMania.

[Ty Schmidt]

Ty was more bummed out when Damian Priest lost than he was when the Yankees lost in the World Series to the Dodgers.

[Pat McAfee]

Really? You were bummed out about it? How about when Joe Hendry became the surprise opponent?

[Darius Butler]

I know you love it. You love it. I appreciate that you said on, on the call, you know, like, listen, I Believe in Randy Orton. I don't believe Joe Hendry. Okay.

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know.

[John Cena]

This was cool.

[Darius Butler]

I love seeing Debu go crazy marking out for him. But I, you know, listen, not everybody can be on the same page, so I had to.

[John Cena]

He didn't listen. I thought.

[Sam Roberts]

Did you hear that pop? Did you hear that pop When Joe Hendry came out, when you said the next great. You talking about 5:2, I thought you were about to say Joe Hendry. I believe.

[Michael Cole]

Dude used to seeing this.

[Connor]

He didn't belong in the same ring as Viper.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay?

[Connor]

And that was proven.

[Sam Roberts]

He had his mania moment. That RK out of nowhere though.

[Michael Cole]

Especially on Randy's 20th anniversary.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean the guy's thing is to turn around and smile and the camera zooms on him.

[Pat McAfee]

I get it. Look how electric that is. This part.

[Michael Cole]

You mean that part.

[Pat McAfee]

Bang. Electric.

[John Cena]

Incredible.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[Michael Cole]

And we're also neglecting to talk about perhaps the biggest story of the weekend. The fact that Paul Heyman once again stabbed some people in the back and aligned with Seth Rollins in that triple threat match for the main event of WrestleMania Saturday. Absolutely incredible. Here the low blow first to Punk. We thought he had realigned himself with Roman Pat, but that wasn't the case.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought OTC was back with the original bloodline. And as soon as Paul dropped to that knee, I knew this rat bastard and son of a bitch was going to rattle those balls and the cheeks in a line with Seth freakin Rollins. I went on the ride the whole time. He sent that chair over to CM Punk. I'm like, of course this is the favor. Then when he low blows him, I go, wise man, super genius. Wise man's got to figure out the bloodlines all the way back. And then whammy. Seth Rollins a la the shield breakup in Indianapolis, Indiana into a stomp. One, two, three. Seth freakin Rollins, the visionary, the revolutionary Seth freaking Rollins is now teamed up with Paul Heyman. Paul Heyman will join us in one hour. I cannot wait to talk to that man to see what he has to say. I heard him last night at the roast. How was he at right of Wrestlemania? Paul Heyman was throwing some Paul sk He was throwing some real heat. I, I, I don't know if it was a worker shoot, brothers, couple things that were going on and I was just on cloud 90 right in the middle of all of it having a time of my life. Some other sports happened this weekend that we have to catch up on quickly before John Cena joins us out here. Yes.

[Ty Schmidt]

NBA playoffs Happened. All the favorites basically won. Only two of the lower seeds won. That was the T Wolves beating the Lakers by 23 in LA. Kind of bad news, players there for the Lakers, Luka went off, still looked unbelievable. And the T wolves won by 20. What is that, 22 points? Even, even without a big night from Ant Man Clippers, Nuggets was probably just the best overall game. I think everyone thinks that's going to be the best overall series that went into overtime. Russell Westbrook came through in the clutch, unlike earlier in the season when we saw him miss that layup. Jokic, I think he had 29, 9 and 12. I mean, the guy is ridiculous. And the Clippers, I mean, even though they lost game one, the Clippers look great. Kawhi's playing a lot of basketball. I think he played 40 minutes. And James Harden looks like prime time. Jimmy Harden.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go back to the Denver Nuggets real quick. Do we think the players maybe wanted some change?

[Ty Schmidt]

That's what it seems like that, that seems to be the writing on the wall.

[Pat McAfee]

They're kind of all.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, especially Malone was, you know, talking some shit about him kind of to the media in some post game press conferences. So it does feel as though maybe the boys are coming together. And this there. Yeah, you can see right there. But they were down most of the game. It felt like if there was ever a time where a team would quit, it would be, you know, right there. And instead here come the Nugs. Look out. But that's kind of the West. The west also. Thunder won by 50. Just, just so we're keeping track.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, 50 is quite a spread in the playoffs. How about in the East? Who's looking the most dominant on the eastern side?

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, the most dominant, I think I would say the Boston Celtics. Just because they took care of business. It stayed under Jason Tatum. You know, everyone's saying, tam, have a good game. Oh, well, who had the most rebounds of any player this weekend? Oh, that's right, Jason Tatum. So he can do it all. And you know, 14 boards, that's no joke, especially in a game that went way under, is going to be a defensive grind here. But yeah, the Indiana Pacers are rolling, right? There's no doubt about it. The way they play. I don't think anybody wants to play them. Giannis is going to score 40 points a game in this series, but they might not win a game just because the Pacers are playing so well. Hal Burton, the maestro of the court, if you will, and then kind of the other story in the east is the Pistons. Knicks. Everyone loves the Pistons. They got the dogs. They got the dogs. Jalen Brunson went on a 200 run in the fourth quarter and they won the game. Yeah, 20. And oh, it wasn't just him, but he was basically creating score and doing everything and they, they were down the whole game. I think going into the fourth, it was an eight point game. Pistons were up and then the Knicks end up winning by 11.

[Pat McAfee]

You're a Knicks guy, Cole. You all jacked up?

[John Cena]

I am.

[Michael Cole]

And I can't wait. They play again tonight. Og he's the guy who's going to be the, the guy they need in this series.

[Pat McAfee]

X factor.

[Darius Butler]

X factor.

[Michael Cole]

X factor. Exactly. And they're, they're playing well. I mean, the Pistons, I think the Knicks are going to win in six. Second round I'm a bit worried about, but we'll see.

[Pat McAfee]

Who do you. Who would they have in the second round?

[Michael Cole]

I believe.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, I believe.

[Ty Schmidt]

Who's that, Cole?

[Michael Cole]

A team from way up north.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, so you won't even get a chance to lose to the Pacers?

[Ty Schmidt]

No, no, they won't.

[Pat McAfee]

NBA happen. NHL playoffs also happening over the weekend.

[Connor]

Yeah, we started playing some of the most important puck of the year out there on the IC NHL playoffs in a similar fashion. All the favorites won though. Just like the NBA. Most of the favorites won. All the favorites won five games so far. All the favorites won.

[Pat McAfee]

Is there a playoff problem? Is there a first round of the playoffs problem? I don't think you got a college football playoff. Go to NFL playoff. Go to NBA playoff. Now at the NHL playoff, maybe we just need to understand that sometimes there are levels to this.

[Connor]

There are levels to this. But it's weird because like the way the NHL playoffs are set up, it's not like a one verse eight thing. They play the divisions or whatever. But yeah, four of the five teams were home teams, so maybe there's the home ice advantage. The ice is tilted a bit. The only home team to lose, unfortunately, it was Gumpy's Dallas stars. They lost 5 1.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but we thought they kind of stink coming in right now.

[Connor]

They lost six or seven coming into the playoffs, so no, they weren't good coming in, but. And the Avalanche were the favorites and McKinnon had two goals there in the other games. The Jets. The Winnipeg jets won over the Blues 5 3. The Kayniacs won 41 over the Devils. The Leafs beat the Sens 6 2. And the Knights last night in this city beat the wild 4 to 2.

[Pat McAfee]

Golden Knights might have a chance. Can't wait to catch up with the Stanley cup playoffs as they roll on. The NHL and hockey playoffs as a whole are must watch. I mean, it's so fast, it is so electrifying. Speaking of must watch, there's been a man that has been around the WWE for a majority of my life. He's been preaching the good shit. Hustle, loyalty, respect. When he heard that, all you thought to yourself was, wow, Here's a hard working man who will give his all to his professional and to his people. Here's a guy who's going to be able to ascend to the mountaintop and not just get there and hang out and see and then drop no for 20 years. Show up night after night after night, understanding that the work only starts when you get to the top and carry the company in beautiful fashion for two decades. He's a man that has been discussed as a goat by the voice of the wwe, Michael Cole for the better half of the last decade. Let alone the fact now that he's the all time leader in world title runs. But is the way that he did it Last Night at WrestleMania gonna tarnish everything that this man has done for 20 years? Is him being a backstabber, ball kicking heel of a champion gonna r all the great that this guy has done for society. He's made more wishes for make a wish than any other person ever. He's an actual actor. Every movie he's in is a banger. But right now these people think he's an asshole. Ladies and gentlemen, our champion for the 17th time, John Cena SA.

[John Cena]

Feel like a helicopter pilot with us on today. I am.

[Pat McAfee]

I would trust you, John.

[John Cena]

Your captain for this afternoon. We are cruising at 32, 000ft. We're gonna.

[Pat McAfee]

I feel like I'm at 40,000. If you're at 32, 000, I'm at 4.

[John Cena]

I can tell, man. How you doing?

[Pat McAfee]

I'm great. How are you?

[John Cena]

It looks like you're feeling pretty good.

[Pat McAfee]

Congratulations. John Cena 17 times.

[John Cena]

Smells like you're feeling pretty good.

[Pat McAfee]

17 time world champion.

[John Cena]

Well, now that that's out of the way, what, what can we discuss? What's. What's going on in everybody's life?

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so let's discuss some things. Mr. Cena. When you made the decision to kick Cody Rhodes directly in the groin, was that just the beginning of the mind games? Knowing that whenever it came to WrestleMania, whenever it came time for big match John to show up, that maybe that would get in the back of his mind, and you would inevitably, 1, 2, 3, become a world champion. Was all of this just for last night to happen, or is all this because it's how you truly feel about these wrestling fans who, I think, in their words, have disrespected you over the last 20 years or so?

[John Cena]

So that's a very long winded way for me to hear a question that sounds like, hey, there's a really cool thing going on on television on Monday night Raw and smackdown, and I want you to spoil Monday night Raw and smackdown for me.

[Pat McAfee]

Me.

[John Cena]

So I'm not gonna answer that question at all.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[John Cena]

I appreciate what we're doing on television, and I think that's you. You've been in those seats. You guys have both been there for the excitement of Raw and the excitement of smackdown and the excitement of wrestlemania. There's just certain. Certain lines I'm not gonna cross that I think are meant for Raw, meant for Smackdown, and meant for premium live events. So what I'm hearing with that question is, hey, in this awesome TV show, while we're in the middle of the season, can you give me a spoiler? And my answer is no.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so no spoilers. How about this? Can you give me an inside look in your brain when that place is saying, let's go Cena, much louder than the cena sucks chants? Was there ever time maybe said, you know what? Yeah. Hey, thank you, guys. Last night, was there a moment of, you know what? These people have been riding alongside of me, and these people still do love John Cena. Did you think about that last night when you were in there?

[John Cena]

Not. Not once. I've been pretty. I've been pretty clear that I've done a lot of work on myself to make sure that I'm okay with me. And I think once you get to that point. Point, and you have love in your life, starting with self love, and you have loving connections in your life, you begin to realize the things that are most important. I reference your team. I always see the same people around you behind the curtain. You have your family, you have your close circle. You have people that you love. And that's awesome when times are good. But I know you know about this. When times get tough, those are the only people you got. So I've been.

[Paul Heyman]

Been.

[John Cena]

I've been on a hell of a ride, and I've had a lot of folks ride with me. And through the good times, you know, maybe there's a lot of people, and through the bad times, there's very few. And those are the people I try to focus my time, effort, strength on.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, you need to know there's been a few of us that have been there through it all. Ty Schmidt is one of them. He has a question for you, Mr. Cena.

[John Cena]

Oh, boy.

[Ty Schmidt]

This should be good without.

[Darius Butler]

Well, listen, John, you know what? I was actually just going to say. Mine's less of a question, more just. I believe I'm in your. I'm in your corner. I'm right in that. In that boat, rowing with you. I don't think, you know, they. Everyone has taken, you know, you for granted. I think I probably have, too. You know, I'll admit it. So I want you to be as.

[John Cena]

Did you think this would become a therapy session?

[Michael Cole]

Not at all.

[Darius Butler]

No, listen.

[AJ Hawk]

Not at all.

[John Cena]

No, man, I'm cool with this. I love leaning into difficult stuff. By the way, thank you for sharing that. Keep coming.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

So I was basically just gonna say, I want you to take this thing farther than maybe these people even think you.

[John Cena]

What thing is that?

[Darius Butler]

I don't know, coming down the ramp and, you know, if you spit in my face tonight, I'll just. Just. I'll eat, is what it is. You're probably right.

[John Cena]

Cole. There might. There might be some. Some. A fetish site or something. We.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, come on, John, let's not go that far.

[John Cena]

I mean, hey, there's something out there for everybody. I don't judge nobody.

[Darius Butler]

Have you thought about that, though?

[John Cena]

Like, have I thought about spitting in your face and you eating it? Not until you just brought it up. But then I'm like, man, maybe we can, you know, like a. Like a pay per view sort of thing.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't think you. Only fans. Hey, you done?

[AJ Hawk]

Only.

[John Cena]

Yeah, I got an only fans page. I got an only fans page.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly.

[John Cena]

Yeah. So, no, we're going to table that idea.

[Darius Butler]

Okay.

[John Cena]

All right.

[Darius Butler]

I like that.

[John Cena]

We're going to sidebar that later on.

[Darius Butler]

Have you thought, though, like, I haven't even scratched the surface on this yet. There is so much lower. I can go. I can. I mean, I can really scrape the bottom of the barrel on this thing. And these people have no idea. Have you. Have you given that any consideration?

[John Cena]

Well, I don't know. I can only control what I can control, right? So I don't know how many. I don't know how many people actually listen to what I said. I'm going to ruin wrestling. So they'll find out tonight on Monday Night raw. Why is that?

[Pat McAfee]

Why is that? Wrestling has given so much, so much to all of us, yourself included.

[John Cena]

I am so exhausted. And I have given everything to this. And it is, it is instant gratification like this for me, that's love, man. When even though this is an employee of a company, we spent over two decades together, that right there is love.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you hear what he said about you?

[John Cena]

I don't have. I don't have much of that beyond this because as much as these people see what I show them, they don't know me. And they'll never know me and they'll never know who I am. And, man, it's just. You say they've given me so much, dude. I've also given every effing thing I have. And now I'm, you know, I'm at my sunset and I don't have, you know, like, I don't. None of these people know me, man. You know, like, we didn't, we didn't do any of that stuff together. Like, yeah, you got. I mean, for real, you guys were there, that's great. But I'm the one falling down, down, like. And that's. I don't know, man. Like, I. Whoa, dude, you can go beat his ass.

[Pat McAfee]

Greatest. No, no, that's greatest of all time.

[John Cena]

None of you are going to be able to see any wrestling, cuz I'm going to ruin that son of.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, okay.

[John Cena]

So, like, whatever, man. And that, that's, that's all I got to say about that. Like, I, it's not a matter of like, oh, how far can I stick the knife in them? No, I'm just gonna shut it down. That's it.

[Darius Butler]

I respect it.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Michael Cole]

John, I was very critical of you in the beginning of this whole thing.

[John Cena]

Dude, you've been critical for me 20 years, somewhat.

[Michael Cole]

But I think because it was such a shock when all this went down, knowing you for as long as I have and not knowing that this was gonna happen, I mean, it affected me emotionally. It really did. But in retrospect, and I said it last night, night, you're the goat. In my mind, you're the greatest of all time. It doesn't matter how you're acting in the ring now, how you acted 20 years ago, and I said this on commentary, when you won your 17th world title last night and people were bitching and moaning about how you won it because, you know, Travis Scott got involved or whatever the garbage was at the end of the day. At the end of the day, garbage. Ric Flair was the dirtiest player in the game and he won many championships in the same way that you did last night. So for people to be critical of the way you won your seven, I think they're being very hypocritical. You got it done. You've been at the top of this game for 20 years. You have the greatest run of anybody that I've ever been around, and I congratulate you for that. Now, I don't love a lot of the things you're saying about a lot of people, but I do respect everything that you've given me and you've given this business, man.

[John Cena]

I'm entitled to feel how I want to feel, and it's not. There's three sides to every story. There's mine, there's yours, and there's the truth somewhere in the middle. Unlike all of these people, sometimes you get lost in the sauce. Everybody gets together in a group like this. You guys all get loud. You all get emotional. A student of the game. And I said it Friday night on Smackdown. Like, winners write history, and I don't. I don't get lost in the sauce. I focus on writing history. And that's why I'm where I'm at. You know, for. For a lot of years, when you get caught up into this, being a kid from a small town, coming from nothing, coming from farmland and imagination land to get here is. I'm not supposed to be here. So you do get lost in all the enthusiasm and the energy, and then you kind of realize, like, oh, man, this is coming to an end. What are the things, selfishly that I want to do? Okay, I got a legitimate chance to write history, so I don't care what anyone else thinks about my choices at the current time. I'm going to do finally what I want to do for me.

[Pat McAfee]

And, you know, you're entitled to that.

[John Cena]

John, whether your perspective is irrelevant. It's my choice, and it's my decision. And I'm just going to what I want to do. And I know that that's not going to mesh well with everybody, but say what you want about my actions currently. Say what you want about my behavior in the past. You can't knock my hustle. You can't knock my loyalty to this company or brand. You can't knock the respect that I have for the people before me. And you can't knock the fact that I've honest every single day that I've stepped in the ring, I've been honest and vulnerable with the audience. And right now, I'm not meshing well with you guys. And I'm just being straight with you.

[Michael Cole]

Guys, but I, but I sort of under impact. Pat, you'll get this.

[John Cena]

So. So it's okay for a group of people to have a negative reaction towards me and I'm supposed to say, oh no, no, you're entitled to do what you want. But if I'm not feeling well, if I'm having a bad day, if I'm. If I'm for a second feeling grumpy and I don't want to deal with that bs, I can't do that. I can't tell you how I feel. That's not a functional relationship. That's not. Not good. And that's what I mean. Like, this is not good. This is not good is what I'm saying.

[Pat McAfee]

Like one way street brother.

[John Cena]

And if I, if I got one more thing to do before I go out, it's teach these people what a functional relationship is because they don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

That's very nice of you to do that. I think that's a good thing. Leaving place better than when you left it.

[John Cena]

That's all I'm trying to do.

[Pat McAfee]

Unless you ruin wrestling, which we can't have, dog.

[John Cena]

I'm just gonna shut it down, that's all. Here's the thing, ruining wrestling is there's gonna be a show, everybody's replaceable. There's always another show. I'm going to make wrestling start over. That championship is coming home with me. And I will be the last undisputed WWE Champion, period. So they're gonna have to make a new title. They're gonna have to start the clock over again. And whoever is that first champion, whether it's Cody Rhodes, whether it's Dirty Dom, whether it's Logan Paul, whether it's Bron Breakkert, doesn't matter. They'll be the first one. Bruno Hogan, Austin Rock, HBK Taker Game. Every name you can imagine, CM Punk that comes home with me. Because that's what I've earned and that's what I want to do. I want to write history and I'm going to put my stamp on the business by taking that piece of the business home with me. We all talk about this new era and we talk about how the business has changed. Changing. Well, I'm taking the last piece of tradition in the business home with me. And you guys can figure out how to settle the dust when I'm gone. Period.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, well, I'm excited to see how they read.

[John Cena]

Hey, yo, you're a headline guy. There it is. Boom. I'm not gonna spoil TV for you. But there's your headline.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you for not spoiling.

[John Cena]

All right.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, thank you for giving us a little clarity on why you're doing what you're doing as well.

[John Cena]

Now, I'm not ignorant. I'm not saying that there's never gonna be another show. Of course there is. You guys will be here next year without me. You'll be here the year after without me. I don't care. I'm cool. I'm cool. In closing this chapter, my life, there's one piece I'm taking home with me, and that's so you guys can figure out how you want to do it from here on out. Because you're not the same folks I came in with, period.

[AJ Hawk]

Wow.

[Pat McAfee]

We've all grown because of you.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[John Cena]

And I'm not the same person I started 20 years ago either, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, after you carry a company for 20 years, obviously there's going to be a lot of difference.

[John Cena]

I don't care what you're doing. If you're the same person you are two years ago, you're not doing it right. There should always be growth. There should always be development.

[Pat McAfee]

Every day.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Every moment.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

With that being said, I thought you looked really good in the ring.

[Darius Butler]

Absolutely.

[John Cena]

So you're the one.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought you looked jacked.

[Michael Cole]

I actually did.

[Darius Butler]

Moving well.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought you looked really jacked. I thought there was. You picked. You picked. I mean, there was a lot of strength. I mean, you looked prime.

[John Cena]

John Cena, you have run out of shit to talk about, huh? Now you. Now you're talking about my fitness.

[Pat McAfee]

No, because the last time is now, is what everybody's saying. You just said, my last Wrestlemania, I'm going away with how good a shape you're in right now and how good you're going. You're telling me next year, two years from now, three years from now, somebody doesn't come up and say, john, you just won your second Oscar because Ricky Stanicki is so damn good. Peacemaker. Peacemaker just won a Grammy or Emmy or whatever. Emmy for that entire thing. You got a Tony Award because you probably did some Broadway shit that you're going to be able to sing somehow, and none of us will understand why you're so good at it. And then they're going to say, oh, yeah, there's a little dream match waiting at Mania.

[AJ Hawk]

How do you know?

[Pat McAfee]

Like, why are you so short? Because in this business, especially the guys that are in your conversation, which are goat talk, it's like, there's always a chance, isn't there? Is there always a chance? Why are you so sure that this is it?

[John Cena]

So this is one I'm going to address to the world. And the people behind me hopefully will understand whether they like me or they don't. Like I said, I always shoot straight. And. And I'm a man of integrity, and I'm a man of my word. And when I got in this business and I started to have some success in this business, and I had to face almost being fired to come out clean on the other side, when I won my first title, I made a promise. And back then, it was, like, mythical. We never think we're going to reach the end when we're 20 something years old. I said, when I'm a step slower, I'm gone. If you watch my stuff from 2015 and you watch my stuff from today, today I'm a step slower. So you know what? I'm gone. Because I made that promise to these people behind me. And whether they like it or not, I know wrestling retirements aren't real because there's always a payout involved. I've been in the business almost 25 years, and the business has been good to me. I've been smart with my money, and I will have a life without want. And I know how appreciated I am for that. I never once take that shit for granted. There is no amount of money and there is not a check. And this is just a shot across the bow to any casino owner, to any territory owner, to any promotion owner. You can't write me a check to bring me back in December. I am done because of the promise I made to them. Whether I like them or I don't, at least I go out keeping my word. And for them to understand that they may have some unpacking to do in their own personal lives. I get to sleep sound at night. I'm good. December number, I'm gone.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, all right. I respect that Barry Sanders integrity, that's all. And that's why I was bringing up your shape, because you said you're a step slower. I. I thought you looked.

[John Cena]

Yeah, but dude, you're high as out there all the time.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, whoa.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but all the time. Yeah. So it's always the same.

[John Cena]

I don't know, man. You gotta warm up to the peak to come out of the curtain. You're like, man, this guy looks really fast. That scene in Tommy Boy where they pull him over, you know how fast you were going? 13 miles an hour. And you pulled over on the wrong.

[Pat McAfee]

Side of the road last night. You laid down, down. And he said, still got it. Yeah, yeah, I know you did. I know. You looked awesome last night. Another guy from Massachusetts, Connor, has a question. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

John, it's an honor to be sitting.

[John Cena]

Up here with sweet mouth stash, man.

[Ty Schmidt]

Hey, thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[Pat McAfee]

I've never heard that.

[Ty Schmidt]

Think about me bringing one back, especially.

[John Cena]

Dude, I can't grow facial hair. I haven't shaved in 10 years.

[Ty Schmidt]

In this new era, you might be able to.

[John Cena]

I mean. Okay. All right. Can I get some of the. The top?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, yeah, sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, that looked good. I thought.

[John Cena]

Dude, it's coming in.

[Pat McAfee]

You did something different.

[John Cena]

Oh, I did, I did. It's coming in. It's coming in. Yeah. See, I listen to you idiots. I do.

[Michael Cole]

John, what's the secret? Because I could use a little bit of that.

[John Cena]

You have to. You have to take the ones from the side and plant them in on the top.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly.

[John Cena]

So you take the lawn over here and you put it on the dry spot. It just takes a while for it to come in. Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

It looked good.

[John Cena]

It looks coming in, man. It's coming. Hopefully a couple of months it looks better. Hopefully in a couple of months it looks better.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought it looked great. Great last night.

[John Cena]

Yeah. I'm going out with a huge. Like a long hair. Yeah, hopefully.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's what we're pulling. Yeah.

[John Cena]

Those today maybe, but I can't grow a mustache. I got nothing.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, again, we can figure that out.

[John Cena]

I'll go a little patch right here. That's it.

[Ty Schmidt]

And put them on right above the lip.

[John Cena]

There's another headline for you. Hair transplant. There it is. Look at that.

[Darius Butler]

Wow.

[John Cena]

I'm dropping them, dog.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you, dude.

[John Cena]

Yeah, there's no shame in that, man. I got a problem, I try to fix it. That's what I'm doing.

[Pat McAfee]

Science has come to a.

[John Cena]

Hell, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

We're like, hey, you know what? This has been a thing. Let us help you.

[John Cena]

And I'm not going to tell you who did it because I'm still waiting for it to get better once it gets better. And I got long flowing locks. And I'd be like, yo, go to this guy. And if you're thinking about it, truly, go to this guy. So I'm working on it. Work in progress.

[AJ Hawk]

Work in progress.

[John Cena]

Like I care, but work in progress.

[Pat McAfee]

It looks unbelievable.

[John Cena]

No, I just saw so many bald spot signs, you know? And that's the thing. When you get it, like, so you get the deal, right? And your hair falls out because the new ones have to Grow so the old one falls out. So, like, in January, February was, like, I had it in November. That's when I came, like, half a skin hit up here. And, you guys, by the way, thank you for being so aware of my needs and emotions, because you guys. Guys ripped me to shreds for a genetic problem that I can't control.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, I'll tell you what.

[John Cena]

Hey, dude, you don't look good enough out there. Like, that's what I'm saying. This isn't cool. You guys aren't cool to me. Like, this isn't. Why do you think I did? I'm in the Rumble, you know, trying to win, and, like, man, that's the bald spot. Like, yo, that's not fair. I can't control that. It happens to seven out of ten dudes.

[Pat McAfee]

Like, hold on, hold on, though. Their hair shaming of you has made it. What? Better? I think you went and made some plays. Hair's growing in full.

[John Cena]

I get it, yo. I get. Leaning into uncomfortable stuff is like, hey, maybe if. If you got a good friend and they tell you, like, maybe don't wear that out. That's cool. One of you sons of could have pulled me to the side. No, but in unison, you chance and you make me feel small, and you embarrass me. Like, y'all don't know what that's like. That is straight up bullying.

[Pat McAfee]

It is.

[John Cena]

And that's right. That's just not cool.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't like it.

[John Cena]

It's not cool.

[Pat McAfee]

Hair look good, though, if it means anything.

[John Cena]

Yeah. So. So thank you for bullying me into getting surgical hair replacement. Like, that's how far. That's how far y'all pushed me. I just appreciate that. But, yo, it's coming in. Come on, Fuzzies.

[Pat McAfee]

Come on.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, it does look fantastic.

[John Cena]

Tangents. Anyway, here we go.

[Ty Schmidt]

You mentioned, you know, taking.

[John Cena]

Yo, did you think this. Do you think this will go like this?

[Michael Cole]

No, not at all.

[John Cena]

All right, cool, Cool.

[Ty Schmidt]

But it's going great. It's not for you, Cole. But, you know, you mentioned Don and Logan kind of the new era. Who's going to take it over. Did you have any thoughts about the other, you know, WrestleMania messages, whatever.

[John Cena]

That is not pertaining to me, so I can spoil the hell out of that. Dom Mysterio is. Is born for this period, and. And I got to. I got to work with him very early in his career, and I've had the chance to work with experienced talent, but I've also had the chance to work with a lot of new Talent, you can tell right away. There's always, you know, late arrivals. People can, like, not get it and then figure it out. I'm example of that. But there's also those people, like, God damn. I remember Randy Orton just making everything look so easy. Dom just makes everything effortless. And he doesn't crack under pressure. And any pool we've dropped him in, he has not only treaded water, he's swimming laps around everybody else. Dom Mysterio, we ain't even close to what that kid's capable of. He's incredible, and he's gonna be incredible for the next 20 years or as long as he wants to be in this business. He will be. And I love his dad. Like, he's another one. Is a close connection. I love that dude. He will be the most famous Mysterio in professional.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, wow.

[Pat McAfee]

He already thinks that, I think. Which is a part of the.

[Michael Cole]

That's cool.

[John Cena]

I love the confidence, dog. I love that. I love that. I remember. I remember a young man such as myself who created a fake PhD, you know, a doctorate in Thuganomics. Just to let everybody know.

[AJ Hawk]

Bars.

[Pat McAfee]

We need a new album.

[AJ Hawk]

What do you mean, fake?

[John Cena]

We do not.

[Pat McAfee]

We need a new album.

[John Cena]

Actually, I got it. I got it from one of them online schools.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay, thank you.

[John Cena]

Yeah. And Logan Paul. Logan Paul's a stud. I text him right away after his match. I'm like, dude, you are innovative. From his entrance to holding a drone, to thinking, like, on another level of, like, I'm going to swing big and try something different. I thought that was. Fuck, I thought that was dope. And then his performance, he's doing stuff that I couldn't do at peak physical condition. So regardless of how, if you like him or you hate him, he's doing athletic moves that are better or as good as any. Any of the wrestlers out there. Any of the train wrestlers. Wrestlers. And here's what I like most about Logan Paul. He doesn't give two shits if y'all like him or not. He does it as himself. And he's okay. He's like, yo, this dude is a stud. There's gonna come a time when y'all wake up to Logan Paul. This dude, he got here late. That shouldn't be a penalty for him. He is a WWE Superstar. He belongs in that ring with everybody else. And I know he's always going to be himself. But whether you boo him or not, you are going to pay to see that kid, because he is unreal.

[Pat McAfee]

Perfect setup for him to be a WWE Superstar, amateur wrestler in high school and college. Content creator has been hated on the Internet long time. For a long time.

[John Cena]

He's got, he has.

[Pat McAfee]

He's literally.

[John Cena]

He is, man. And not only callous, like, he's been hated, but he's also been through the fire, like, oh, man, you'll never work in this town again. He's had that phone call 10, 12 times. Times. He doesn't care. He just. There's a dude who never gives up. He will just keep getting up, man.

[Pat McAfee]

And content creators have to always be thinking of. Not everything's great, but you always have to be thinking, thinking, thinking. And you brought up that drone. He caught a drone. I didn't even know that was.

[John Cena]

It looked like he was taking a selfie, and then he let it go. And I'm like, how are they? What's the camera on the string? And then he caught that.

[Pat McAfee]

Caught the thing like it was a bird flying back to him like a parrot. I, I, I didn't know that was possible.

[John Cena]

And then puts on a. A great match after that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And AJ Styles, obviously.

[John Cena]

No, you don't have to. AJ's, AJ's one of the best. You don't have to go there.

[AJ Hawk]

How about him?

[Pat McAfee]

He's jacked, right?

[John Cena]

He is, he is. I mean, I feel small around these guys. Randy. Randy and Batista switch bodies somehow.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow. Randy. Randy's legs.

[John Cena]

Randy's also like, a foot taller.

[Ty Schmidt]

Holy shit.

[AJ Hawk]

Weapon.

[John Cena]

How about I talked to Randy's belly button. I don't know how he did it. He's a foot taller and 300 pounds heavier. I don't know what's going on.

[Pat McAfee]

Speaking of you and Randy, let's go back to that OVW class, right? It was you, Randy. Brock was in there.

[John Cena]

Yeah. Shelton. Benjamin, Batista. Batista Shelton.

[Pat McAfee]

All at OVW with Rip, same time.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And do you think. When did you.

[John Cena]

I gotta shout out Danny Davis and Jim Cornette, too. Those are two guys who are Rip Rodgers as well, but those are three guys that. Brain trust, they had their own method of doing business, but, man, they, they allowed us to respect the business, the appreciate what we're trying to do, the foundation of storytelling, the foundation of physical fundamentals. We, we were the right group, but we had the right mentors.

[Pat McAfee]

You all knew you're gonna make it. No, not that you thought you were gonna.

[John Cena]

Everybody knew Brock was gonna make it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[John Cena]

And I know I, I think everybody knew Randy would get a chance, but, like, you got to remember, sitting in ovw, you got the Rock on tv. Mankind on tv. Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, hbk. Like, even the low level guys, even the opening match had storylines. I mean, you were there. Yeah, there was no room for anybody. And then, like, the meltdown happened. You know, Austin left and Rock left, and they changed the name and the XFL failed for the first time. So it was like, man, we need a new look. We need guys. And Dude Ruthless, bro, We were ready.

[Pat McAfee]

Ruthless.

[Michael Cole]

Well, in many ways, that's where we're at now with the company.

[John Cena]

Yo, that's. That's why there's never. There has never been a better time to be a WWE Superstar than right now. Because, man, the pay is great. The way they treat the talent is incredible. Incredible. This is not me talking to you about our relationship, but the way y'all show up for these, for the new talent, for the NXT talent, for the LFG, talent, like for. For WrestleMania, for Raw, you guys. You guys show up. Yes, I can deal with our relationship on television, but you guys show up for this. And because you are, you're allowing these people to know, like, yo, this is a viable, awesome career choice.

[Pat McAfee]

Live dreams and live well. Yeah, man, thank you for paving the way, too. I know there's a lot of.

[John Cena]

Dude, no, no, no, no.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, because first time I saw you. First time I saw you.

[John Cena]

If you're gonna say that, you got to go the road before. And the road before we go back to Buddy Rogers and all the. The carnival wrestling and all that. Like, I. I appreciate my little chunk. That's why I'm okay. Closing the chapter. But there's 20 years.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I understand that. That was your little chunk, and there were those that came before you, but you came before me. So very much appreciative of trying to finish first, man.

[John Cena]

Just trying to finish. Finish first.

[Pat McAfee]

But I watched you at MetLife promoting a WrestleMania. It was. Colts were playing, I think, the jets, and you came out in the warmups, and you had to have just came. I think you were working the night before. We were watching, and you walked out there and you were standing in the middle of the stadium, and you gave the most impassioned speech I've ever seen. They had you before warm ups. There's probably like 15,000 people in the stands or whatever. Everybody knows you're a masked guy. You. This entire speech, you turn around, you walk off, and I go, Mr. Cena, thank you for that. He goes, hopefully we move some tickets. You kept it moving. It's like you've been a consummate Professional for the wwe. You showed up for the WWE every single night of your life for two decades. Even at a 15,000 seat arena promotion. Before preseason or before warm up, start talking about the autographs that you've done, the make a wishes that you've done, the roads that you've traveled on your bus. It's. It's like you're a dog dude for this business. An absolute dog. So whenever you talk about this next generation of talent and how good of a time it is in wwe, your fucking ass is one of the biggest reasons on why it is such a good time in the WWE. Congrats on your 17th title. I know you're not going to respond on anything for that, but you've earned all this shit. Go ahead, Debo.

[Sam Roberts]

You guys talked about Dom, Randy, Logan. I'm still pissed off. It seems like I'm the only guy up here that believes in Joe Hendrick, but besides that.

[John Cena]

No, you're not. No. So Joe's awesome. And I got the chance to meet Joe at the Rumble face to face and he had a small moment in the Rumble and he's like, hey, you're good at this. How do I make this more. And I gave him some advice like you don't. You go out there and you be yourself and you make your moment. Your moment. When you try to make your moment more than is given, that's selfish. And you're a small piece of a greater show. And I thought he did excellent at the Rumble. And last night I thought he was brilliant. What I got to do is if I'm a new. If I don't know that kid, I got to know him, he got to do his stuff. He got to be in a WrestleMania match with Randy Orton.

[Pat McAfee]

Hell yeah.

[John Cena]

And he got a fantastic moment and giving Randy his 20th WrestleMania. But we got an introduction on a large level to Joe Henry. Just because I didn't bring his name up doesn't mean I'm sour on the kid.

[Michael Cole]

No, no, no.

[John Cena]

I think, I think he's going to. I think he's going to be a major player. Like. And it. Because I hope not. He loves it. He loves it and he gets it. Right?

[Pat McAfee]

He hates.

[Sam Roberts]

But hey, but speaking of the cool.

[John Cena]

The cool thing is I like him. I don't. There's the chemistry with. So I'm, I'm, I. He's got a great mind.

[Sam Roberts]

But speaking of fantastic moments, despite your relationship with these fans, how you going.

[John Cena]

To work on that?

[Sam Roberts]

You'll work on, I'm sure, the toxic relationship, but how did it feel when you won the 17th title? Like, how was that moment with you, your mind, your body in that moment when you got up on the tournament vocals and you actually did it?

[John Cena]

So we're going to reflect on all that stuff in December and right now, I don't want to talk about anything that's going on through my mind because I don't want anyone to get a false representation of the things they're going to see on Raw, smackdown and Premium Live events. Okay? I. I will promise you. I promise all you guys, because I know you'll all be on the panel. You might not be there. Soon as that last match happens, I know you guys are doing a show the next day. If I can't be on that next show, I will be on as soon as I possibly can.

[Ty Schmidt]

Hell yeah.

[John Cena]

And then we can talk about all this. But until then, the reason these people show up is because they want the excitement, the unpredictable unpredictability and the uncertainty of WWE programming. And I'm just not gonna. I'm not gonna spoil that for me. I'm not gonna spoil that for you.

[Sam Roberts]

Congratulations.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, congratulations to you. We will see you tonight on Monday Night Raw, 8pm Eastern on Netflix. With a 17 time world. A big number, dude.

[Sam Roberts]

Huge.

[Pat McAfee]

John C. I thank you.

[AJ Hawk]

I thank you.

[Darius Butler]

The goat.

[Ty Schmidt]

The goat.

[Pat McAfee]

Standing up the go Go.

[Sam Roberts]

Hell yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Always training. Always training. That's right.

[Ty Schmidt]

Cena's the go.

[Pat McAfee]

Aj. Hawk just tried to alpha John Cena.

[John Cena]

I did not.

[Pat McAfee]

You just. Yeah, he brought. Just from over here.

[Ty Schmidt]

Slide him over.

[Michael Cole]

I'm learning, Connor. I'm learning.

[Pat McAfee]

You're doing a great job. Ladies and gentlemen, aj.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes. Hey. I like this version of John cen. What was it? What is this version of John Cena? Feels real. Feels like the guy is very comfortable. It feels real. And obviously dominated last night. What do you think he's going to say tonight on Monday Night Raw?

[John Cena]

I've been hearing a lot of like.

[Pat McAfee]

Teasers that something big is happening tonight. Yeah, he's got to be saying something massive tonight, right? I'm not giving anything away. I got to address some stuff tonight on Monday Night Raw. Paul Heyman will be joining us in about 20 minutes or so. Is he going to be on Monday Night Raw tonight? The Raw after Mania is always absolutely bananas. Michael Cole, what are you expecting for this evening?

[Michael Cole]

Rafter mania? I mean, anything. It's going to be an incredible night. I want to hear if Seth Rollins is going to explain why he did what he did. I want to hear what Cena has to say, Dominic's going to be there. He's the brand new Intercontinental champion. What's Gunther and Jey uso's reactions going to be to the World Heavyweight Championship? You know, I did want to say one thing about Jon and, you know, Pat, you and I have talked a lot over the last couple of weeks about the change in Jon and his character. I sort of, after he explained today, I can sort of sympathize and with that a little bit because I've gone through a lot of that in my career. And yes, just the evolution and getting to the point where he only got a few more years left. And it's like, you know what? I just want to be myself now. I don't give a damn about being a puppet anymore or doing that stuff. I want to be who I am. And hopefully the next couple of years we can do that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but you haven't been blaming the fans for it.

[Michael Cole]

No, not at all.

[Pat McAfee]

That's the thing. John Cena said, like. Like I've been taking a deep dive in all this and it's you, the fans, that have been making me feel the way I felt over the last 20 years. But I think some of the fans, Ty yourself included alongside Debone, have taken a long look in the mirror and said, yeah, maybe it is our fault. Hasn't that kind of been the case?

[Darius Butler]

Without a doubt. I mean, you just look back and this guy's giving me so much. What have I given him? You know, what?

[Pat McAfee]

Really?

[Darius Butler]

What have I given him? Nothing. I mean, I. Bone was a little bit more. Because when Cena first started kind of going at the fans, you know, Bone crying in the office, you know, just like a big ball of just nerves. And, you know, last night even Bone was kind of. You could see he was. He was kind of trapped in his emotions. He didn't know whether he was supposed to be excited for Cena. If he should really kind of look into himself and say, what have I done for this guy?

[AJ Hawk]

I haven't done anything.

[Pat McAfee]

Travis Scott came out. I saw him last night. People loved it.

[Ty Schmidt]

That was cool.

[Darius Butler]

People loved it. You guys loved it, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Springboard over top of that rope with ease.

[Sam Roberts]

That was a bounce.

[Pat McAfee]

Now he got crossroaded pretty quickly there by Cody Rhodes a little bit.

[AJ Hawk]

I was worried about it.

[Pat McAfee]

A little bit of receipt. I will say. I got a fresh new pair of boom.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay, look at the bottom of those.

[Sam Roberts]

What are those?

[Pat McAfee]

Shaq West Chase B. Huh? You know the guy that created Mo Bamba?

[John Cena]

What?

[AJ Hawk]

Jack Boys.

[Pat McAfee]

If you Will, they were in the house last. Last night. Oh, they said, hey, Pat, we brought these for you. Actually, I got handed these after.

[AJ Hawk]

That's awesome.

[Pat McAfee]

As I'm on the way out, hey, man, these are for you. We brought these for you. I was like, excuse me. They're like, you're size 12, right? I said, yeah. They go, this is for you. Hand them to me. I got brand new shoes from Travis Scott's game.

[Darius Butler]

Pretty cool.

[Pat McAfee]

Then I had to think to myself, I said, what? Travis Scott's giving me shoes? Papatui got sent to the office the other day. Yeah, terrible. Mana got sent to the office the other day.

[Ty Schmidt]

Delicious.

[Pat McAfee]

John Cena just came on the show. So what are they.

[Sam Roberts]

What's about that time?

[Pat McAfee]

What's going on here? What is the deal? Are we being recruited right now? I'll tell you, that hardcore title was earned last night by Travis Scott. He took a crossroads that I didn't think he was going to be able to get back up from. He did. He celebrated with Cena, and I believe he was calling Cody Rhodes a bitch the whole time. Is that what you were hearing, Michael?

[Michael Cole]

Of course. That's what he was calling Cody Rhodes the entire time. I just like his swagger when he walked out to the ring.

[Pat McAfee]

It's the middle of a match. A match is happening right now.

[Michael Cole]

You know, you hear a lot of people.

[Pat McAfee]

Pretty big match.

[Michael Cole]

You hear a lot of people complain about Travis being involved in this whole thing. He's one of the biggest stars on the planet and he was involved in Wrestlemania. There you go. That's all you need to know.

[Pat McAfee]

And fiend was the official theme of Wrestlemania. Heard that a lot.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, I don't think we heard it enough, actually. I won't be able to get that out of my head for probably the next year.

[Pat McAfee]

Fee fiend.

[Darius Butler]

I'm sure we'll get it tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

[Pat McAfee]

It's catchy, though.

[John Cena]

It is.

[Pat McAfee]

It's very catchy because as you get into it, it's hard. Yeah, it's kind of hard. It's kind of thing. Big news happened in the sports world. The Philadelphia Eagles had to figure out their center after Jason Kelce retired to go do the new heights podcast in live. A light of celebrity, they have extended their center. Cam Jerky wins the super bowl, has to replace Jason Kelce has done a fantastic job. Four years, 68 million, 39.4 guaranteed. That ties him to the Philadelphia Eagles through 2029. Big business happening before draft night for the Philadelphia Eagles. They paid Saquon, they paid Cam, they paid Jalen Hurts, they paid Devonta Smith. And what's going on with A.J. brown? What was the. There was some stuff. Oh yeah, there was some chitter chatter about A.J. brown, wide receiver of the.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, they're tying them to New England. They're saying, hey, if Abdul Carter falls to four, don't be surprised if the Eagles try and partner a little deal with A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

Brown.

[Ty Schmidt]

Maybe another pick to move up to four. Take Abdul Carter because the whole New England with Mike Vrabel and A.J. brown, their relationship from Tennessee, it goes all the way back. Obviously New England needs a wide receiver. I don't see that happening. I mean, Nick Sirianni, what did he. He wore A.J. brown's high school jersey the day after they won the Super Bowl. Was it. Wasn't that his move when he was doing the press conference? So. Probably not. But it sure sounds like Abdul Carter wants to be a Philadelphia Eagle.

[Pat McAfee]

We're in smoke screen season, AJ Hawk. Everybody's lying to everybody right now. Yeah. Why would, why would A.J. brown want to leave the Eagles though?

[John Cena]

You think he wants to be traded?

[Pat McAfee]

I mean there was a lot of chatter last season that Nick Sirianni had to keep the, you know, the train. Yeah, he went to the Super Bowl. Doesn't that you think everything goes under the rug. They just signed Saquon Barkley, though. They just recommitted to, hey, we were going to be a run first team. And if AJ Brown's cool with that. Cool. And if AJ Brown's not cool with that, you could see how maybe he could probably get about 18 targets a game with New England. Couldn't he ruffling some feathers if you wanted to.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean you don't want to leave a great situation. We know wide receivers want touches. Always drama around big time wide receivers. He is one of the best one on one wide receivers when it's out there. But this is a team built, you know, for wide receivers to make a sacrifice. They're built off the run game to get the most explosive plays up that you see the investment on the offensive line. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out, but I'm with you. I don't, I don't think it's no chance they get rid of AJ Right now.

[Pat McAfee]

In other big NFL news from the weekend, the Washington Commanders under the new ownership Josh Harris, Magic Johnson and team have negotiated a deal with Washington D.C. for a new stadium back in the District of Columbia. Congratulations. 3 billion going back to RFK campus in time for a 2030 kickoff. It feels like forever. And obviously, I assume it's very easy to get things done in Washington. I assume there's not a lot of red tape or things like that in the District of Columbia. I assume this will be a fantastic stadium because their current one is absolute shite. There's a lot of those around the NFL right now. Happy to see teams getting it fixed, though. Michael Cole.

[Michael Cole]

Yes, indeed. And, you know, we were in a great facility for WrestleMania this weekend that I believe.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, my God.

[Michael Cole]

Absolutely incredible.

[Pat McAfee]

The newer things you can tell, like Fontainebleau. Okay. The hotel that we are staying at here and have stayed at here, it was built or open in 2023. Two years old, brand new. Like, everything in Vegas, no offense, has been built for so long. Like, it's been around. It's been around. Everything's so big, too. So to renovate or remodel it would cost so much money, and everybody would have to shut down. So you're kind of like, at. At the mercy of whatever the time period was whenever you built your hotel. The Fontainebleau just launched in 2023. State of the art everything. So nice that. That was the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in.

[Sam Roberts]

Every new one out here. If you've been coming to Vegas, like, everywhere, there's Aria or Cosmo, they always kind of got to do one up. Just like these stadiums. Like, we talked about how incredible that stadium is. It wasn't a bad spot. Wherever we went on the underbellies of the stadium, it was incredible seeing it when I landed at night, just driving by. It just looks like some from the future. Just unbelievable.

[Pat McAfee]

Las Vegas is a great city, man.

[AJ Hawk]

It is great.

[Pat McAfee]

What's that?

[Sam Roberts]

To host anything.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes. For real, because you guys are walking across a bridge to get over here, I guess. Is that accurate? I guess there were some shots last night of people leaving, walking across a bridge back into the strip area. Everybody's joyful, having a good time. WrestleMania. How you doing? Keep it moving. Did you.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, not everybody's joyful. Did you see that guy on the escalator, Whatever. Trying to work his way up later, Going down.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. He had to tap out, I'll tell you. The others working around him in completing the task of getting to the top and him just having to realize he. He was not built for that.

[Darius Butler]

No.

[Ty Schmidt]

Right there.

[Pat McAfee]

Anytime you're trying to go up the down escalator, you're signing up for a little bit of a trek here. You're gonna have to do at Least eight times the amount of steps to get up to the top. And if he was built the way he was built, and I don't like to judge people, but normally those who are pretty active are not built that way.

[Sam Roberts]

Correct.

[Pat McAfee]

I like the blind confidence that he was going to be able to do that because that thing was rolling pretty good.

[Darius Butler]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And then all of a sudden he gets about three steps away.

[Sam Roberts]

Start tossing the shit.

[Michael Cole]

Yeah, he just tossed everything he had up.

[Pat McAfee]

Losing weight. Take the shirt off and he just starts coming back and people are swim moving him on the way up. That had a tough experience.

[Darius Butler]

Well, and we're not talking like your. Your standard mall escalator. There's like three story. Yeah.

[Michael Cole]

So like at the top of this building.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, the one in the hotel is at least three stories. Like, you got to know when you're going up.

[Pat McAfee]

So many celebs. Yeah, so many celebs. Feels like we announced everybody legit.

[Michael Cole]

It was like every segment that we were showing more and more celebs, we.

[Pat McAfee]

Were getting cards just thrown at it with people with handwriting. Hey, this is Donna Rogobooty.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, yeah, that guy. Love that guy. Jameer Gibbs.

[Pat McAfee]

I felt so. Shout out, Jameer Gibbs.

[Michael Cole]

Hey, we drank beer with Kittle in the crowd.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. George Kittle gave us a beer in the middle of the show last night. It was. It was pretty wild. It was pretty wild out there. It was awesome. Little Yachty hanging around there. Quavo was like, pat, I have a beer. Yep, no problem. Quavo didn't give you one of Steve Austin's beers here?

[Michael Cole]

Rick Rubin, who's one of my all time favorites, was there on Saturday.

[Pat McAfee]

Rick Rubin, front row. I think because of the way the seats were kind of set up. He was getting. I mean, it was Kirk, Herb Street.

[Ty Schmidt]

Herbie.

[Pat McAfee]

Herbie. Herbie was locked in for three and a half hours straight. I'm looking over at Herbie one point and his face is just like when Joe Hendry, Randy Orton was happening.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, his mind was blown.

[Pat McAfee]

Kirk had no idea how one of these things is not like the other.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, he was so.

[Pat McAfee]

Kirk was like how? Kirk looked over at me a couple times. He was like, how we like the guy with the quads. Right. Randy's got the biggest quads I've ever seen, is massive quadzilla. And then his upper body is absolutely stacked. Joe Hendry walked out there with his TNA title and said, I'll be the one if it has to be someone. All right. Howard 2 will be on the other Side we got Paul Heyman joining us. The wise man turncoat for Mastermind. We shall see. I think, I think when today's show is done and done, everybody will say that was a hell of a week. From Las Vegas. Get us back to the Thunderdome and then to the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. What a week. You have big announcement. Coach Mike McCarthy, formerly of the Green Bay packers will be joining us Thursday night in Green Bay for our draft spectacular. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. Yeah, has been awesome. There has been shows literally since the moment we got here all the way through late last night and today, all capping with Raw after Mania tonight from T Mobile Arena.

[Michael Cole]

Right, T Mobile, Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

T Mobile Arena.

[Michael Cole]

That's where we're going after this.

[Pat McAfee]

That'll be on Netflix at 8pm Eastern. And John Cena has some explaining to do. Dirty Dom is probably going to be celebrating in our faces. And what will Paul Heyman be doing tonight on Monday Night Raw? We'll find out as he joins us in about 14 minutes or so. Who's us, you might ask? Well, it's some members of the WWE universe. It's also the toxic table at Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt, it's nine year NFL vet Darius J. Butler. Thank you. It's one half of the Hammer. That's Cowboys, AP Tone and it's WWE Goat. The voice of the WWE just got done with his 28th WrestleMania. Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Cole. Cole. Big storyline coming out of Wrestlemania in your eyes, going in your projections and thoughts. Coming out your projections and thoughts.

[Michael Cole]

I mean obviously the massive story is the fact that John Cena won his 17th world championship to set a record. Jon was here moments ago. He said he's gonna tell the world what the next step is and how he is going to. What was the term he used? End professional wrestling as we know it.

[AJ Hawk]

Ruin it.

[Pat McAfee]

Ruin professional wrestling and make everybody put a reset button is basically what he said debut, isn't that right?

[Sam Roberts]

It was. You know, I don't blame him. I don't blame him. I mean I am interested to see what is the next chapter, how he ends it tonight or in his mind how it actually comes to life. I'm interested. Raw Athomania is always elite and you.

[Michael Cole]

Mentioned Paul Heyman here in a matter of moments. I'm sure he'll be on Monday Raw tonight. We need to know why Seth Rollins sold out for lack of a better term to the wise man.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I agree. And con man. This is now multiple Wrestlemanias for You how you feel about the crowd in Allegiance Stadium?

[Ty Schmidt]

I thought the crowd was great. I think it's different for a mania like this because last year, mania, you know, take the scene of surprise solo, they had all the, that, that run at the end, whereas this year it felt more like a, you know, like a movie at the end with, you know, the entire hey thing with Seth Rollins, with Roman, with CM Punk, like it was, you know. I believe you said cinema earlier. Yeah, I think cinema was a. Is a good way to describe it because like last year it had the loud, the big moments that everybody wants to have and you know, it wasn't quite like the Stone Cold when he came out with, with ko but it was those type of, you know, loud pops surprises last year where this year it was like, wow, look at what they're doing with the entire storyline. Like I, I for one did see that coming. I remember where me and Deba were sitting. D butt actually said, oh my God, Heyman's grabbing a chair. And so when that entire thing happened, like it was kind of like a shocking what is going to, you know, go on. So it was incredible. And I thought the fans were just as good.

[Pat McAfee]

I think there was a lot of title changes. Jay USO obviously getting a massive win to kick the entire weekend off. The yeet was spectacular. His press conference afterwards was also electrifying, don't you think?

[Darius Butler]

With a doubt. I mean the, the crazy thing, I mean, and you guys especially, you guys have been on TV for 36 of the last 48 hours, you know, just going non stop. I love Vegas. I mean that feels like it was, it feels like it was a year ago. It was, it was two nights ago. Like it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Darius Butler]

I tell you what, this city is awesome. It can, it can do some, some crazy things to you. But I think overall, you know, like the venue last night, it's hard just not to get intoxicated with everything.

[Pat McAfee]

AP Tone, I saw you having some booze and enjoying yourself. I saw you slap hands of Randy Orton, almost come your pants immediately.

[Connor]

Yeah, I had my WrestleMania. It would be funny if that was a joke. It actually happened. I had my WrestleMania moment. Yeah, with, with the Viper last night. He was walking off, got the high five, got the fist pound from him. He's been a legend for so long. And when you talk about a WWE Superstar, that's him. Like that's the, that's the mold that I love in my WWE Superstar. Someone who just looks like an absolute monster. And that was. Yeah, that was really cool last Night.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it was a fantastic thing. And whenever you talk about new tag team champs on there, Lyra Valkyria is now a double champion, which is a wonderful thing for her. So quickly into her career has she become absolutely dominant in the wwe. The big question, though, is why in the heck hell did Seth Rollins team.

[AJ Hawk]

Up with the wise man, ladies and gentlemen.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, well, well. Here. Okay.

[John Cena]

Wow.

[Darius Butler]

O.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you for coming.

[AJ Hawk]

Ladies and gentlemen. My name is Paul Heyman. I'm done.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't break my heart again. Don't break my heart again. Don't do it, Paul, man. Don't break my heart again, please.

[AJ Hawk]

So this gentleman right here, I call you a gentleman and you laugh, okay? So this jerk off right here says to me, how could I do it? I did it just to piss you personally off. Nobody else. Nobody else in the WWE universe, just you. I did it all just for you personally. Now what the are you going to do about it? And the answer is the same thing that Roman Reigns and CM Punk are going to do about it. Not a God damn thing.

[Pat McAfee]

Jeez, it's Easter yesterday.

[Darius Butler]

Oh, my God. Yeah, you're right.

[AJ Hawk]

So please be unlike your daughter and keep your mouth.

[Pat McAfee]

Jeez. Jeez Louise.

[AJ Hawk]

Wow.

[Pat McAfee]

Sorry, sir.

[AJ Hawk]

I was.

[Ty Schmidt]

Me.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Michael Cole]

We apologize.

[John Cena]

Holy shit.

[Michael Cole]

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, Holy shit.

[Pat McAfee]

Would you like this or would you like the. It's up to you. Oh. Back at commentary, Paul E. Dangerously is about to break down the action. Let me tell you, Paul, I watched your work at the roast of WrestleMania last night. I think you caught a couple bodies out there last night. That was quite a moment. I was lucky to be there. I will say I was lucky to be there. But it feels like there is this edge to you right now, more so than ever before. Was this the plan whenever you joined Seth Rollins? Get a little bit more edgy, let people know they suck more? How are you feeling on this particular overreaction Monday?

[AJ Hawk]

With my hands.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

How are you feeling mentally and emotionally on this particular overreaction Monday Mania Monday.

[AJ Hawk]

Lose your best run lately?

[Pat McAfee]

No.

[AJ Hawk]

Lose the ability to worship your own tribal chief lately?

[Pat McAfee]

No. I could still do this one right. No problem.

[AJ Hawk]

Wish I could, too, but that was taken away from me, wasn't it? My savior did not resurrect himself on Easter Sunday yesterday. He couldn't because he was put down on Saturday. And there was no resurrection, there was no benediction, there was no absolution in the life of the tribal chief, Roman Reigns, and there couldn't be. Let's be clear. About. About this. I didn't betray Roman Reigns.

[Pat McAfee]

What.

[AJ Hawk]

Did I put my hands on Roman Reigns on Monday night and shove him down to the canvas in front of millions of people watching at home. I didn't touch Roman Reigns. What did I do? I got shoved down to the canvas. I got. I got. I. I got emasculated in front of the entire WWE Universe by my tribal chief, Roman Reigns. I pleaded with him. I went in, my best friend, did a favor, saved Roman Reigns. CM Punk, I agree with you, CM Punk, not much of a best friend. Look at a position that he put me in. What a compromising position CM Punk put me in against my own tribal chief. You know what that'd be like? That'd be like, Pat, Pat, thank you so much. Thank you so much for all that you do, Pat. Check out this hot broad from Vegas. She's all yours. You go, oh, man, I got my wife and my kid with me. Let's not even explore that possibility. Really, Pat? Why? Here's a possibility for you. What happens in Vegas State Days in Vegas. And do it right. And do it right in front of your wife.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that'd be no fun. My house would burn down. That's what you're saying. Got it. Got it. Okay, so CM Punk puts you in a bad spot with the tribal chief because you owed him a favor, so you're mad at him.

[AJ Hawk]

So what kind of best friend was CM Punk?

[Pat McAfee]

That was bad. But who?

[AJ Hawk]

A lousy best friend. A shitty best friend.

[Pat McAfee]

So does.

[AJ Hawk]

That's right. That's right.

[Pat McAfee]

A shitty. That's right.

[AJ Hawk]

Here's Michael Cole going, sir, like the criticism belongs to me. Criticism belongs to cm. Paul.

[Michael Cole]

Your entire life and career, you have gone to people that pay you the money that give you the spotlight so you can leash off them. Whoa, that's bullshit.

[AJ Hawk]

Cole.

[Pat McAfee]

Cole.

[Michael Cole]

You want to know?

[Connor]

That's bullshit.

[Michael Cole]

I want to know how much Seth Rollins paid you to pull off this. This thing that happened on Saturday night.

[Pat McAfee]

You are a businessman.

[AJ Hawk]

About a dollar less than Vince McMahon used to pay you to be J R's lackey.

[Pat McAfee]

Got him.

[Ty Schmidt]

Wise man.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm sorry, were you going to the lowest bidder back then? Never saw you jump to wcw.

[Michael Cole]

Never.

[AJ Hawk]

I don't see you going to Jacksonville anytime soon.

[Michael Cole]

Nope.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, so you're staying with the highest bidder, right? So you're just like the hooker?

[Michael Cole]

I'm loyal to people, unlike someone else that is sitting next to me. And did you forget that you were the one that put your entire career and reputation on the Line by turning Taz and I into the number one commentary team in wwe. That was because of you had nothing to do with Jim Ross or anybody else. You believed in us. You put backed us.

[AJ Hawk]

You're welcome.

[Michael Cole]

So there you go.

[Pat McAfee]

And now how's he treat you? Now he's telling you the same way.

[AJ Hawk]

He should treated me, treats me like crap and then accuses me of being disloyal. I was loyal to CM Punk. I brought him back after the hell in the cell. I gave him a spotlight. I gave him a chance to redeem himself with the tribal chief Roman Reigns. And he puts me in this impossible, impossible, emotional compromising position. That was an absolute no win on. Was it a no win? It was a must lose with my tribal chief Roman Reigns. And that's my best friend. He's as appreciative as you are.

[Michael Cole]

How could you take that moment away from Punk? You guys had built this for 20 years. I did it event.

[AJ Hawk]

Wait now, wait a minute. You can't back that up.

[Michael Cole]

What was his dream to main event wrestlemania.

[AJ Hawk]

What did he do?

[Michael Cole]

He main evented wrestlemania.

[AJ Hawk]

Living color playing him. Did I ruin his day? Did I sit there all day fetching, going, you know, everything in. I wish I could hold you a follow. I never did that. What'd I do? I pumped him up, I primed him, I hugged him. I gave the man love and affirmation. I gave him the support he needed to main event WrestleMania. You rubbed him in the back. That was my promise.

[Pat McAfee]

You rubbed him in his back to soften it up.

[AJ Hawk]

My promise was to be in his corner for Wrestlemania. I honored my promise. I honored my commitment. How am I disloyal to CM Punk? Nobody is making the case against me.

[Pat McAfee]

I am.

[John Cena]

How?

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Hit him right in the balls.

[AJ Hawk]

Damn right I did.

[Michael Cole]

And you, you did the same thing to the guy who was gave you everything. Forget about this.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So Roman Reigns threw your face to the canvas on Monday. You said that's on my tribal. I'm sorry, I'm bringing up bad memories there. It looks like you're getting a little bit emotional there. I know. It's a. I know.

[Darius Butler]

Tough situation.

[Ty Schmidt]

Tough shove too.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, it was.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he threw your face. I didn't it either. I didn't like the still photos. Everybody had the still photos. His hand on your face. I didn't like it. So you think that he disrespected you on that particular day was Seth freaking Rollins, the visionary, the revolutionary Seth freaking Rollins. Is he the one that's coming up to you and telling you about all these things. Like you think CM Punk's a good person, put his arm around you, trying to smooch you whenever he knew Roman was coming to town. You think Roman cares about you at all? Was it Seth kind of pushing and needling you, or was it you going to seth saying, Please, Mr. Visionary, you are the future of the business that I would like to work alongside. If you could just give me a peek behind a curtain in that relationship, I think I would be very thankful. And I'm sorry. It's emotional. One day. So a lot has happened. You're a Hall of Famer, married to the game.

[Connor]

Congratulations.

[Pat McAfee]

Well earned.

[AJ Hawk]

Sometimes the truth is so right in front of you that, that you do these Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories to try to, well, figure out what's really going on. And, and this. This is a straight line. And it doesn't take me to point it out to Seth Rollins, and it doesn't take Seth Rollins to point it out to me. We just happen to be two like minded, like interested people walking into the main event of WrestleMania and understanding that we both suffered the same fate at the tribal. Chief Roman Reigns. That Roman Reigns uses everyone in their sight. In his sight. Squeezes the juice out of the fruit till it. Till it's not useful anymore and then discards them like he did to me. And that CM Punk. See, CM Punk does as much good to my reputation Shannon Sharp does to espn.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, no. Geez. All right. See, I'm all right. We don't need. We don't need that lock on.

[AJ Hawk]

Don't ooh be. I'm not the one getting sued. Whoa, whoa.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. All right. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We move along. We move along. We get it. We get it, wise man. We get what you're saying. I. Okay. We get it. Okay.

[Michael Cole]

So how long has this whole thing been in play? You and Seth together?

[AJ Hawk]

You're looking for a conspiracy theory?

[Michael Cole]

I'm just asking a simple question. When did you guys decide to join forces?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, when did you guys start smooching?

[AJ Hawk]

When I handed him the chair.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, no, we're words that need to be said. We're all speaking the same language. We're on the same wavelength right now.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, that's it.

[Pat McAfee]

Ty has a question for you. Wise man.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, wise man. I'm just curious. I mean, I'm not used to seeing you like this. It's actually kind of messing me up a little bit. But, I mean, how do we get the marionette strings back?

[Pat McAfee]

How do you.

[Darius Butler]

I mean, what. What's the plan of attack here. I. I just. I. I can't. I'm looking at you and it just. It hurts my heart because I don't want to see you like this.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, the plan of attack. Attack is what happened at WrestleMania. I made sure of one thing. I lived up to every promise. I never betrayed my tribal chief. I took CM Punk to the ring, and I was in his corner for the main event.

[Pat McAfee]

But here's the times he did one of these.

[Ty Schmidt]

Remember, ring the bell, Boom.

[AJ Hawk]

You know, it's funny. I find it very interesting how at Mania, they say the winner of the match is Seth Rollins. And he was, by the way.

[Michael Cole]

Yes.

[AJ Hawk]

I find it even more satisfying in my dreams that there's something, someone who is now inside the head of Roman Reigns and inside the head of CM Punk. And all they hear is not the winner is Seth Rollins. They hear the losers of the match, Roman Reigns and CM Punk. And I'll even do it in that order and give Roman Reigns top billing because. Because I know that pisses off CM Punk even more.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, so what should we expect out of you and Seth? What do you think? Is this going to be something like we've seen with you in the past with guys, or is this just to happen one night? We all have the same views, same vision, same dreams.

[AJ Hawk]

You tune in tonight to Monday Night Raw, and I will lay this out for you in such simplistic terms that even Roman Reigns and CM Punk will understand it.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[John Cena]

Wow.

[Pat McAfee]

Connor has a question for you, Mr. Heyman.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, wise. And you're saying a lot here. Are you worried about the possible repercussions? You know, because Seth, he is a father, and now that the man is back, he. His duties might, you know, take him elsewhere at times, and you could be left alone here. And so you're calling out Roman Reigns, you're calling out CM Punk. They live and breathe this shit. Are you worried that you might have to watch your back now? Especially with some of the physical violence you've kind of taken over the last year?

[AJ Hawk]

Are you offering to be my backup?

[Ty Schmidt]

I. I think you're going to need more than me, brother. I. I would. I would love to be your backup.

[AJ Hawk]

I would concur with that assessment.

[Ty Schmidt]

Exactly. Exactly. You need some more beef.

[AJ Hawk]

And so I shall go shopping.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yes. Whoa.

[Michael Cole]

Interesting.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, well, well. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Michael Cole]

Anybody in mind?

[AJ Hawk]

Yes.

[Michael Cole]

And who would that be?

[Connor]

He's a lot of beef.

[Pat McAfee]

He's a lot of beef.

[Darius Butler]

There's a lot of beef.

[Connor]

There's A certain viper out there can't.

[Michael Cole]

Give us any hint.

[Pat McAfee]

I know.

[Ty Schmidt]

Wise man ain't believing. I know that.

[Pat McAfee]

Michael Cole. You got any more brain busters for Paul Heyman, pal?

[Michael Cole]

I was hoping for. Trying to do my job as a journalist. Trying to get some answers.

[Pat McAfee]

Tone has a question for you, Wise man.

[Connor]

Yeah, Sir. Heyman. I know and you know. And this jerk off over here doesn't know, as we found out. You did this out of the. Just, you know, your heart. Your heart was in the right place in all this. You did nothing wrong to Roman Reigns. You did nothing wrong to CM Punk. I know that. You know that. They should know that. And like you said, tonight, they will find that out. Why do you think you know, everyone?

[AJ Hawk]

That guy sucks.

[Connor]

Why do you think you're so misunderstood, Mr. Heyman?

[AJ Hawk]

Who's the smart ass? You the one that's gonna get deported.

[Michael Cole]

Okay, Ladies and gentlemen.

[AJ Hawk]

Hey, I'm Eagle.

[Darius Butler]

Max are hot.

[AJ Hawk]

I, I, I may suck, but it's your mother that taught me how. Beast, the wish of an audience today. I cannot wait till you're back in Indianapolis.

[Ty Schmidt]

Amen, wise man. Amen.

[Pat McAfee]

You should have heard him laughing. You should have heard him last night at the roast. I didn't know what I was signing up for at that roast, okay?

[AJ Hawk]

And apparently neither did Fluffy. God, you'd think of all the. You'd think the Miz would get pissed at me.

[Pat McAfee]

No.

[AJ Hawk]

Miz laughing his ass off. You think Braun Strowman, literally, Braun Strowman goes up there crying that he's not on WrestleMania. And I tell him straight to his face he's on a WrestleMania because he sucks. Did he get mad at me?

[Pat McAfee]

Nope.

[AJ Hawk]

He's rolling with the punches. You'd think Tony Hinchcliffe would get mad at me because I totally upstaged him on his own show and proved that it should be the Paul heyman roast to WrestleMania, not the Tony Hinchcliffe roast of WrestleMania. Think he'd get mad? Mad at me? No. Who gets mad at me? A professional roaster. A freaking. A guy that makes his living telling jokes on panels. A guy that makes a living doing roasts is the one guy that gets mad at me and wants to fight me on stage.

[Pat McAfee]

He was sitting directly next to me. It was. It was quite a scene.

[AJ Hawk]

Not only is he the one guy that wanted to fight me on the stage, he's the one. One guy whose ass, I guarantee you, I could kick.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, hell yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I didn't know you were sizing up a potential fight out there.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, when Fluffy Walks in a room. How do you do anything but size his fat ass? All right.

[Pat McAfee]

Let'S get back to. Thank you for handling that situation for Tone earlier. Yeah, buddy, we hope you stay. By the way, Tone has the rest of his question for you. I just wonder, why do you think.

[Connor]

You'Re so missing, misunderstood? Because I'm sitting down here. I understand everything you're saying. I know you didn't do anything wrong. Why these marks think you did so many things wrong?

[Pat McAfee]

You've been in the business since you're 14. You should know. Why do you think these people are so against what you did?

[AJ Hawk]

You see, it goes back to who created the island of relevancy. I really don't give a damn about their irrelevant opinions. Do you care about the opinions of people who are irrelevant? You don't care about the opinions of most people who are very relevant to your life. You don't care what the opinions are. The people who pay you, they sit there and they go, hey, Mr. McAfee, don't talk about Shannon Sharp on the air today. And you go, I talk about anything I want. I'm Pat McAfee. Watch me swing my swung all over the place. They go, mcafee, don't talk about your podcast on the air. What do you do? I'm King Sloan. Watch me. Pat McAfee, right?

[Pat McAfee]

This is on you. This is about you. Not me. Not me. Accurate stuff, right? Accurate stuff. By.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean. I mean, come on. Hey, hey, hey. Last night when the roast was over and you and I were out back, and you're going, wise man. By the way, it's puff, puff, pass, not puff, puff, puff, puff, puff, puff, puff, Chase down the gummy. Puff, puff, puff, puff, pass, right? And you go, wise man. You know, Stephen A. Smith really sucks, right? And I go, I love Stephen A. The man calls me the goat. The man, Stephen A. Smith, is on the air saying, if there's one person in the universe that I, Stephen a. Smith, at $70 billion a year wannabe, it's the wise man, Paul Heyman. And you sit there and you go, these ESPN bastards give me the same money as him, or the. They can.

[Pat McAfee]

No, that's not true. None of that's true. With that being said, there was a lot of weed being smoked last night. Love that. And I had a great time. I had a great time with that bit. Stephen A. I'm a big fan. You know that. Go get all the money you get. All the money you get. But you. I think you were more prepared for that roast than Anybody else? And Miz goes up. Tony goes up first, does his thing. Good. By the way, I, I good reaction. What? Well, sits down. Miz goes second. Miz has been preparing. Oh, yeah. For a long time. I don't know, Miz had a hundred jokes.

[Ty Schmidt]

Started doing stand up, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. He literally was trying his best. Started rolling through. It did not go great. It did go good. I'm sorry, Miz. There was a couple moments where I go up immediately after. Did not know what I signed up for. I'm just going to go sit down there. Fluffy goes Braun. Strowman comes out, takes his shirt off, goes bananas. I mean, the whole thing. Jeff Dye comes out. Jeff Dye, I believe, does this on a regular basis. Then Paul Heyman comes out and there's just a different, you know, the cadence of how everything was going was one way. And I'm kind of bopping through the clouds as this is going, like, okay, funny, funny. All right. I'm dead tired. This is good. This is good. You came out there and I mean.

[Darius Butler]

You took out just a full on Rollins flamethrower.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it was, it was a Rollins flamethrower through the whole thing. You need to do that more often. I think, personally, I think they should be hiring you to do that. I think you and Tony should potentially team up out there. You don't do a lot outside the wrestling world. This has just been your life, strictly full time. All the shows you're not on air. I don't want to give away too much here. You're there. Okay. This has been your entire being. Why has there never been a trip outside of the business? Will there ever be a trip outside the business? And is this a for. I mean, this is what, forever? Obviously, this is the pace you're going to be able to keep going, you think.

[AJ Hawk]

This industry keeps me very vibrant and I love every moment of it and I cherish every moment of it. This industry pays me very well. So doing projects on the outside, most of these projects can't afford me. Am I interested in some things? There are things that I'm interested in doing, yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Like last night was something you thought you'd be great at and said, you know what, I'm gonna give this a go, because you did.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. They threw it my way and I was like, okay. I didn't, you know, I asked a couple times, hey, who's on the panel? You know, I was not going to secure the WWE guys. I mean, I kind of did. And the Miz and his wife and, you know, but that was. That was a lot of. That was with a wink and a smile. But I wanted. You know what it's like. It's like. And I'll say this about you here. You were an outsider that came into our world, and you could do it as good, if not better than the guys on top from day one. You. You came in. We knew it. Logan Paul. Logan Paul came into wwe. He's an outsider now. Usually back in the days. Michael Cole can tell you about this. Back in the days when an outsider, even. Even a top football player would come in and go, hey, I want to be a wrestler. First thing they do is they take him down to the Met. They break. They break his leg, they snap his ankle, they tear the. The tendon off the bone. The first thing we do is hurt you in this business. The very first thing we. That was always done. And then it's, if you really want this, you come back, then we'll teach it to you. So it was a very tough business for outsiders to break into. And it's very intimidating to break into this because, as you can testify, just learning the rhythm of hitting the ropes or taking a turnbuckle, that's not easy. And outsiders will look at it and go, oh, he just run towards the rope. Really take an outsider, put them in a ring, say, hit the ropes or take a turnbuckle, and they will realize very fast how complicated this industry truly is to do, to present, and to perform. You came in, you showed even top guys you could do it. And there was a lot of resentment against you at first for that, because you could do it better than the very top guys instantly, instead of guys who trained for five years, so could Logan Paul. So they came to me and they said, said, would you do the roasted WrestleMania? And I said, you know what? I'm gonna go on their stage, I'm gonna steal their show, I'm gonna do their shtick, and I'm gonna do it a lot better than they can ever do now. If they asked me to enter a juggling contest with Penn and Teller or something, I wouldn't do it, because I can't juggle better than Penn and Teller. If they asked me to do a tap dance contest, I wish I could tap dance, but I can't, so I wouldn't do it. But on this, with a microphone in my hand against anybody. Let's fucking go.

[Pat McAfee]

I did not know you were going to be a part of it, okay? I did not have enough information. I. I realized that quickly when I got there, okay? I, I was like, I am ill prepared for whatever is about to take place. 10 o'clock local to very, very late night. When I heard you were there, you should have seen the excitement. It was like I was a 12 year old. I was in bed basically. And then all of a sudden I hear Paul Heyman's going to be here. I'm like, fucking yes. Had to make the rounds. Everybody had like a crew with him. Did you see everybody's crew? Yes, everybody had a massive crew with them. So it was like nice to like, hey, good to see you. Good to see you. Good to see you. Is there catering here? I am starving. No, there's a couple, there's drinks over here.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, there's a difference between hunger and munchies.

[Pat McAfee]

Y I'm kind of floating between both of them on a 24 hour period of that whole thing. But as soon as I heard you were there, I was jacked. And I would argue you microphone any setting. Winner forever. I hope that does extend to some other stuff. Ty has another question for you. Wise man.

[Darius Butler]

I do. Wise man. Just curious. Last we were talking about the being in the stadium and all that kind of stuff. Does it ever surprise you? I mean, obviously a lifer, like the how this just gets bigger and like it was almost hard to kind of pay attention to everything going on because you just get so intoxicated being inside the stadium. What'd you think coming down the ramp and everything? I mean, is it kind of just another, another day or do you actually get to kind of take everything and be like, holy, this is, I mean, this is incredible.

[AJ Hawk]

All the above. Except for the first part, which is about being surprised about it. It's never just another day. Today is the day. Today is the day to steal the show. Today is the day to have the best performance of our career. Tomorrow we have to be better than today. The day after tomorrow, we have to be better than tomorrow will be. If I can look back on our body of work nine weeks ago, ten weeks ago, and I like what I'm watching. I haven't grown as a performer. I haven't grown, grown as a presenter. I haven't grown as a talent. I haven't grown as someone who takes a look at the industry and tries to move it forward. And if you're not growing, then you're dying and you fall into the past and someone passes right by you. So I take a very progressive approach to it. I also cherish every moment because every moment can be your last. The first WrestleMania that I was in someone's corner, coincidentally, was 2013 at MetLife Stadium, right over the bridge from New York, from my house. And. And. And the first person I went out to the ring with that night was CM Punk against the Undertaker.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

First person I also managed, Brock Lesnar against Triple H. But I. The first time I was in someone's corner at WrestleMania was with CM Punk. And I told my kids that night who came to the show, if CM Punk, Punk, and Brock come out to the ring alone, I didn't die in the back. I didn't have a heart attack or stroke or collapse. They benched me. And that can happen where literally the former chairman of the board could be sitting there eating a protein bar, watching the monitor, and the music is about to hit, and he goes, ball. Bear a minute. Have a seat with me. Watch this on the monitor, together with me. Watch it play out. And that's it. It's over. You're benched. You've been replaced. Happened to him many times. Hey, the host of Monday night World, no, you're not. Hey, the host smackdown. No, you're not. Hey, the host of Monday Night, no, you're not. Hey, the host smackdown, no, you're not. How many times they pull the rug out from underneath you? So it happens. So every time I get to do my thing, I cherish every moment of every moment of it like it's my last. And I look at every performance that I give as merely an audition to be invited back to the next show. With that being said, am I surprised at the success? No. You know why? Because we're good. Because what we do is quality. Because we have brought this business forward into an atmosphere that is sophisticated and that the audience can get. Can get emotionally invested into. And now you can be proud it's no longer just a boutique industry like wrestling. Fan. Yeah, WWE fan. And, of course, man, who else would I be a fan of? Yeah, well, you see, w. Yeah, I get that, too. But you know what I'm saying now it's like, yo, I'm a WWE fan. Check me out. You too, right? Yo, what's up, brother? And it's just this thing. When Elon Musk colonizes Mars, the very first form of entertainment that Elon Musk will present will be WrestleMania from the planet of Mars. And I will accompany someone to the ring for the main event.

[Michael Cole]

And I hope we're calling it. Hey, Paul, I do want to say this because I've mentioned it a couple of times over, say, the last five years. People don't know how involved you've been in the behind the scenes of this wonderful story that started with the bloodline and now has turned into where we are today. I have said that you deserve an Emmy award for what you have done, and our business will never probably get that recognition. Maybe it will, since we're changing. But seeing you write this work with the talent involved and how you've extended this story for as long as you have is absolutely incredible. At the top of the game main event every single time.

[AJ Hawk]

I concur with your assessment.

[Michael Cole]

I figured you would.

[AJ Hawk]

I thank you for your kind words and I concur with your assessment. I challenge the Emmy awards to finally open their eyes and understand exactly what's going on in front of them. I mean, you know, it's not like we're bicycling tapes anymore in syndication. We're on Netflix. We're being covered by ESPN.

[Pat McAfee]

Why?

[AJ Hawk]

We are consistently the number one videos on YouTube. We are consistently the number one guest on any podcast that has us on. So with that kind of global recognition and acceptance of the beautiful performance art known as professional wrestling, one would think that the Emmy award people would open their eyes to what's truly going on in entertainment.

[Pat McAfee]

You would think.

[AJ Hawk]

And sooner than later, the public will speak up to such a degree that the Emmys will have no choice but to recognize us for our contributions to people's entertainment.

[Pat McAfee]

I hope so. I hope so because you've you directly and Michael Cole now. At this point, 28 WrestleManias have contributed to the entertainment portion of my life at a rapid clip and at a higher rate than any other broadcast company, production company company, movie company, show company. Oh, and oh yeah, it's 52 weeks a year, every year, forever.

[Michael Cole]

By the way, we just had a 12 hour off season.

[AJ Hawk]

Yep, exactly.

[Michael Cole]

We're starting the new season tonight.

[Pat McAfee]

Raw after Mania. Paul Heyman will explain why he took his right forearm to two different sets of sacks on Saturday night. Connor has a question for you. Paul.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, wise man. Do you think to everything you just said, the new WWE Unreal show with the behind the scenes of the writing and the creative and how much goes into it will help that case because it feels like, you know, maybe there isn't as much public knowledge about the creative and how it is365 but documentaries sometimes, you know, we've seen it with F1. They kind of bring a new light, a new angle to something and it gives it a lot more pub. Do you think think that's going to happen with the creative after The WWE Unreal series comes out.

[AJ Hawk]

Yes, good answer. You hate it.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you hate it or no?

[AJ Hawk]

No, I accept it.

[Pat McAfee]

I watched the Unreal trailer and I do not believe I am considered an old school guy by any parts. Do not want to act like that is the case. But as a person who operates with our show as a work, yeah, we think everything is, you know what, it is real, brother. We think, you know, this isn't a work, it is a shoot. But we think and treat it as a work all the time. And I think there is now a chance that, you know, I don't, I don't know how I feel. Obviously I can't wait to watch it. NFL Films involved, Omaha's involved. WWE is involved. Netflix is involved. It's going to be great. I don't know how much I love.

[AJ Hawk]

You know, I don't, I don't, I don't have to love it. It's, it's not for me to love. I, I'm, I'm a very, very old school guy, the oldest of, I mean, you know, I, I, I, I go back to a theory of heels, settle in the heat, Baby face blows the comeback. You know, I mean, it's, it's that simple of an equation that, that, that the good guy is the good guy because heroism will prevail and the bad guy is the bad guy because on any, any given day he is unable to beat the good guy and therefore must cheat to do so. I mean, these are the fundamentals and then the rudimentary thoughts of my mindset towards the industry. But I'm also very accepting of where the industry has gone and will go and the culture and society's culture that pushes it forward. Do I like walking, walking through the curtain and there's a camera right in my face documenting how I come out of the character that you see on tv. No, I don't like it. Am I, am I going to fight against it? No, I'm not going to fight against it because those cameras are going to be there whether I like it or not. So I'm accepting of the fact that this is the change in the industry and I better figure out how now to capitalize on that, how to expand from it and how to be a part of it or it's going to leave me behind. That's about being relevant. So if you're not, if they do WWE Unreal, and every time that they say, we're gonna mic you up for this meeting, and I go, oh, no, no, no, you're not gonna Put a microphone on me. Not gonna put a camera on me when I'm talking creative behind the scenes. Well, then I won't be on wwe. Unreal. And it's gonna move on without me. So it's there. That train is leaving the station. You can go with the train train into the future of this industry, or you could stay behind like these old timers and then go, you know, back in my day. Back, back in my day, this is not how we did it. It ain't your day anymore. And it ain't your day because you refuse to go into the future with the industry that is moving at a rapid pace. That way, it'd be like someone going to Steve Jobs and saying, hey, we're gonna. We're gonna. We're gonna whip Kodak's ass by building a bank camera inside of a phone. All the music inside of the phone. Everybody's life is going to be right there inside the phone. He goes, oh, no, no, no. No music. You need a record player, camera. You got to go to photo mat to have it developed. Baloney. The future was there. He went with it. Everybody else had to catch up. So anytime you see the future playing out in front of you, it's not for you to like. It's not even for you to have respect for it. It's for you to have an understanding of it and then master that understanding or the world moves on without you.

[Pat McAfee]

Got it. And I think it'll bring more fans, too, and respect to the entire business. What's massive respect for the way you view.

[AJ Hawk]

What would your life have been if your dad, who I know is a very big time forward thinker. Big time. No, Tim McAfee, you don't think your father's a forward thinker? I see how much support he has given you in all your endeavors. If your dad said to you, pat, don't. What are you doing? Podcast. What's a podcast? You can't do a podcast, Pat. No, Pat, traditional media. You need to go on CBS or NBC or ABC.

[Darius Butler]

Sounds like Tim.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Tim McAfee was putting together a gazebo.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay, then if you're gonna rebel against your stupid father, then tell.

[Pat McAfee]

Tell me Tim is not the biggest brainiac when it comes to tech, but I say, dad, I'm doing a podcast. He goes, I don't know what the fuck that is, but good luck out there. That is dead deer. That's what Tim's doing.

[AJ Hawk]

So if you didn't understand what the podcast world was, where would your career be today? Yeah, if you just went with traditional media. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

It's over. Come on.

[Pat McAfee]

I got it, I got it. We gotta dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge our way into the future and into technology. And I think from what I've seen, once again, NFL Films, great at what they do. Wwe great at what they do. Netflix, great at what they do.

[AJ Hawk]

Paul Heyman, better than all of them.

[Pat McAfee]

At what he does.

[Ty Schmidt]

Amen.

[Pat McAfee]

So if everybody's coming together, I assume it's going to be magical and hopefully the respect will grow for the amount of work that is done behind the scenes by the Paul Heymans and the others. Ty has another question for you.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's cool, but do you think is, Is there any part of it? I mean, I know you're just saying, but like, as a fan, like, don't. Isn't, doesn't part. Like, shouldn't something, some stuff be left up to your own imagination? So you can.

[AJ Hawk]

But I'm not making that decision. Decision. I'm not the one calling that shot.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

So. And I'm not going to change their opinion of it unless they ask me in such a manner that my, my contributions to the conversation can weigh in on the decision. They didn't ask me. So it's happening anyway. So since it's happening anyway, I'm either a part of it or I'm not. So you jump on the train or you let the train leave the station without you.

[Darius Butler]

Do you think the, the discussion between, like, Triple H came on the show on, on Friday and basically, you know, gave an analogy about how invested everyone is, but how they feel like they have the right to kind of book anything. Do you think that will kind of. That's just going to make that exponentially bigger where. Because people are seeing the behind the scenes stuff, they're going to feel like they should have a say in how these shows are put together and it's kind of just going to continue to, I don't want to say create that divide, but obviously that shit's very loud.

[AJ Hawk]

I think the public has. I think the public has always been able to dictate what we do. If you like the presentation, you will buy a ticket to support it and come and see it. And if you don't like what we're doing, you'll stop coming and we'll have to sit there and say, hey, the gates are down, the T shirts aren't selling. Nobody's watching the TV show. No one's tuning into the Podcast. No one's buying this. No one's on our website. We got to change course. The public is the ultimate judge. The public has the ultimate sway. The public chooses what they like, in which case they buy. The public doesn't. We're salesmen, we're commerce facilitators here. So either we sell successfully and we know we're doing it right, or we don't sell successfully and we know we gotta change it up.

[Pat McAfee]

Who, who are some of the young people in the industry in the WWE, whether it's NXT, LFG, Evolve, or even on the Raw or Smart SmackDown rosters. Speed, I guess, who are some of the young studs that you kind of have seen since the beginning and go like, okay, future of the industry could be in a good spot here with this particular person.

[AJ Hawk]

Seth Rollins.

[Pat McAfee]

Amen.

[AJ Hawk]

Seth Rollins.

[Pat McAfee]

There's others, maybe. Seth Rollins.

[AJ Hawk]

Seth Rollins.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Seth Rollins. Future of the industry going to carry the industry into higher heights than there's ever been.

[AJ Hawk]

Seth Rollins is exactly where Roman Reigns was in August 2020. Roman Reigns was a multi time Wrestlemania main Event Malt Worm. And Reigns was a multi time WWE Heavyweight Champion. Roman Reigns was a multi time Universal Heavyweight Champion. Roman Reigns had been on top for eight years in wwe. The Big Dog was as big a name in WWE as he possibly could be. And then he sat on the couch next to Paul Heyman and the Tribal Chief was born. And tell me anybody who truly remembers the big dog today.

[Pat McAfee]

OTC, OTC, OTC, O TTC.

[AJ Hawk]

You're welcome. And that's exactly where Seth Rollins is today. Everything that you've seen Seth Rollins accomplish has led him up to this point in his career. And the same transformation of the Big Dog into the global record record breaking box office attraction known as the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns is the same step up that Seth Rollins takes starting tonight.

[Pat McAfee]

Can't wait to watch. Can't wait to listen. Ladies and gentlemen, Tonight on Netflix, 8pm Eastern Monday night Raw will be blessed by the presence of the wise man, Paul Heyman.

[John Cena]

Thank you.

[Pat McAfee]

Love you wise man. Love you wiseman.

[Sam Roberts]

Here you go, wise man.

[Darius Butler]

Cole.

[Ty Schmidt]

You, you dork.

[Pat McAfee]

What about the people? What about the people?

[Michael Cole]

Cole?

[Darius Butler]

Watchman doing dork.

[Pat McAfee]

Wise man wouldn't even smile. You wise man.

[Michael Cole]

Why did you call him a dork?

[Ty Schmidt]

I'm calling you.

[Michael Cole]

Thank you Paul. Than thanks Paul. Thank you Paul.

[Pat McAfee]

Thanks. Thanks Paul. As we restack the desk here for the final few moments of this glorious mania overreaction Monday from the WWE World, we should have AJ come out with this Bad Boy Hogger.

[Ty Schmidt]

Come here.

[Pat McAfee]

Hawker. AJ Hawk. AJ Hawk. AJ Hawk.

[AJ Hawk]

A Hawk.

[Pat McAfee]

AJ Hawk. AJ Hawk. John Morant. Oh, great catch there.

[John Cena]

Unbelievable. Paul Heymon.

[Pat McAfee]

Are you kidding me? I was standing back here with Sam Roberts just in awe of that performance. Lord the Le Marks will join us in a third hour here from WWE World. But as we wrap up here on espn, we'll be back live from Indianapolis, Indiana tomorrow into Thunderdome. Feels like it's been a miles thousand miles per hour. Draft night is Thursday night in Green Bay. AJ we'll be headed back there. Made the announcement in the first hour. Mike McCarthy, former Super bowl winning head coach of the Green Bay packers, will be joining us back in Green Bay on Thursday night. He'll be a great addition to the program. I do assume Big Mike is going to be amazing.

[John Cena]

I think he's very excited for it.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe we even. I'm sure our set will be right off of Mike McCarthy way. There's a street named after him.

[John Cena]

He'll be very humble about that, but.

[Pat McAfee]

We should make sure we bring it up. We were talking to him earlier today and he said what are you doing for dinner? And then we asked if we could stay at his house because I've lived down here a long time, been in Dallas, you know. But we can see what type of condition it's in. Feels like he's ready to go. I can't wait to get to Green Bay. It's going to be we're in Detroit, obviously. We're in Nashville, obviously. Peter Schrager will be joining us. Mad Mel Kuiper will be there. Green Bay, this is the perfect city seemingly for a draft, right A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Green Bay doesn't get to host a.

[Ty Schmidt]

Whole lot of things because of the weather.

[Pat McAfee]

Usually warm weather places, but I think they're going to be juiced. Everybody there I know been talking to that live there have been very excited D BU quarterbacks is obviously the massive question mark, but I feel like we're going to get more athletes. I think we're going to get some offensive linemen picked early. I really think it's a mixed bag going into Thursday night.

[Sam Roberts]

Absolutely. I'm interested to see where these running backs go to start with Ashton Genty, maybe right out here in Vegas, may get drafted by the Raiders. That's a big storyline. Obviously Amari and Hampton and this is the depth of that overall class. Wide receivers too. I feel like in years past we've known the top two or three wide receivers and how they're going to come off the board we don't really know that this year. Very deep D line group as well. I'm excited. Draft is always great. One of the greatest kind of reality shows in shoot sports.

[Pat McAfee]

Ty Mad Mel, I know, has been doing his research. Is he prepared for Thursday night from what you've heard?

[Darius Butler]

I believe so. I think probably, you know, still got a couple booklets that he needs to, you know, kind of comb through a little bit. Really looking forward to getting back to Indianapolis to kind of do some of that prep.

[Pat McAfee]

But.

[Darius Butler]

But yeah, you know, I mean, Matt, Mel will be ready.

[Pat McAfee]

Didn't we try to get actual Mel Kuiper on the show a couple times this draft cycle?

[Darius Butler]

Well, you know, I meet with GM every waking second of the day, so unfortunately it's pretty tough for him to, you know, get out there.

[Pat McAfee]

We have not been able to book Mel Kuiper on our show, ah, years straight now. Yeah. But I'm sure he's going to love you on Thursday night. Can't wait for that, con man. I know you've been focused on the New England patriots picking at 4. What else have you been paying attention to for draft night?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, just kind of what our outfits are going to be. You know, that's something I always try and think about before leading up to the draft, especially after last year, first one outside in the cold in Detroit. I think we're going to have to kind of brave that same cold in Green Bay. But no, it does feel like there's going to be some madness. I. I've the smoke screen season's alive. I, I heard Schefter on Friday say, like, hey, you still can't rule out Shadow to the Giants at three. And then, you know, we're talking Mel Kuiper. Mel Kuiper as Shador, as his number one rated quarterback above Cam Ward. In his, you know, entire draft breakdown.

[Pat McAfee]

Mel Kuiper has Shador at the number one.

[AJ Hawk]

Yes.

[Ty Schmidt]

Not the number one pick because he knows the Titans are taking Cam Ward. But in his big board, he has Shador as his number one qb. So.

[Pat McAfee]

So he's saying the Titans are wrong.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

Mel Kuiper saying that here a week.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes. Mel Kuiper is steadfast on Shador being the guy. I feel okay. I feel as though basically every mock draft we've had leading up to this point is completely wrong. I think a lot of those 2, 3, 4 combos are going to, you know, come out of nowhere. I think that's why the Abdul Carter at 4 to Philly, it's coming up now because teams are finding out, like, oh, 2 and 3 are not going to go how you think it's going to go, and then obviously four is completely dependent on how those two and three picks go. So I think it's going to be an incredible draft. I think there's some teams that are in that top five that might make a move that causes them to become one of those teams that WINS, you know, 10, 11, 12, 13 games next year. And I think that might be the New England.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, of course, that's what you've been paying attention to. Tone, quickly as the hard outcomes upon us. We have highlights for everybody on this particular draft night. Feels like we don't know a damn thing about who' going where.

[Connor]

Now we got highlights for the top 50s just in case anything happens because you never know. There's sometimes people that sneak in at the, at the end of the first, especially because this draft is, you know, they're labeling, labeling it as starters, not stars. So there's. There's 30 different guys that, you know, go from 10 to 40 that could go into the first round. So that's kind of what's going on there. And we'll find out.

[Pat McAfee]

Michael Cole Raw after Mania tonight, 8:00 Eastern on Netflix. People should tune in. Why?

[Michael Cole]

Because it's the best Monday night Raw of the year and there are so many surprises planned. It is going to be absolutely incredible. You don't want to miss it. And I do want to say one thing about the draft. It is our annual right as jets fans to wait and see how we're going to screw it up again.

[Pat McAfee]

You're not the only team that's thinking like that. I think a lot of people are. Tonight, 8:00 Eastern on Netflix. Raw After Mania will be insane. Michael Cole just said there's a ton of surprises planned. Go ahead and give it away, Cole, just like you did on Friday. We'll be live back in Indianapolis tomorrow. Then we'll be in Green Bay off on Thursday. We can't thank you enough for allowing us to do this for a living. From WWE World in the WWE Universe, espn folks, watching around the globe, we appreciate you. We continue digitally. Goodbye. Okay, now we're digital.

[Michael Cole]

Yep.

[John Cena]

Boom.

[Pat McAfee]

Now, aj, I don't want you to hand that microphone off to somebody, but there's a guy in the back who is the Lord of the Marks that we need to come up here and give us his analogy genesis of this WrestleMania weekend. We'll call it 60 seconds with the Lord, but we know it'll probably go 5 to 10. Ladies and gentlemen, the host of Raw recap and WrestleMania recap alongside Megan Morant.

[Michael Cole]

Morant, like jaw.

[Pat McAfee]

She's the great man. Megan Morant's a great lady. And also a guy who's on Sirius xm. Friend of the program, Lord of the Marks. That's right. My liege, Sam Roberts, ladies and gentlemen, Baby Sam.

[Ty Schmidt]

Hello, Sam. My liege, my lord.

[Pat McAfee]

Great to see you, Sam.

[Darius Butler]

Hell yes, my lord.

[Ty Schmidt]

Thank you, my lord.

[Connor]

It's his crown.

[Pat McAfee]

He leaves his crowd at home. I don't know if you're these people's pony.

[Michael Cole]

Big Pop.

[Ty Schmidt]

Invincible.

[John Cena]

Oh, yeah. That Tommy.

[Sam Roberts]

This one.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah.

[John Cena]

Yes.

[Michael Cole]

Way to draw. Drive the fans away. Sam, they are kind of falling out.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, hold on.

[John Cena]

They are.

[Paul Heyman]

Guys, wait, wait.

[Pat McAfee]

What the hell? Wait. Hey, see you guys in raw.

[Paul Heyman]

Hang out, Hang out.

[Pat McAfee]

See you guys over there. Hang out. The show's not done. All right, the boys and I have a rapid fire questions for you. We saved this for last. That's why everybody is here. Connor would like to first give you a thank you for being the Lord.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, thank you so much for the education your show has given me. I feel like I walked into Mania this weekend and I kind of knew everything that was going to happen. Granted, some things I didn't know gave.

[Michael Cole]

All the finishes away.

[John Cena]

No.

[Ty Schmidt]

But I knew all the move sets, I knew all the combos. I knew exactly what the wise man was gonna do on Saturday night. I mean, Debo looked at me at one point talking about, you know, Punk and Rollins as they were going off, and I said, just. Just wait on it because our tribal chief is coming around the corner somewhere. And what happened, dba you were spotted. Yeah, he came around the corner.

[AJ Hawk]

Yep.

[Ty Schmidt]

And the only reason I was bottom is because my leash, Sam Roberts was. Sam, I really just want to know, you know, best match, worst match, you know, in your mind.

[Paul Heyman]

Best match was the Fatal four way for the Intercontinental Championship. And Dominick Mysterio.

[Pat McAfee]

Congrats, Dom.

[Paul Heyman]

Winning the Intercontinental Championship. He did not take kindly to a certain commentary duo laughing at him trying to take his mask off.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Spanish guys again.

[John Cena]

Funny.

[Paul Heyman]

Actually, he didn't appreciate that.

[Pat McAfee]

What was the mask? Somebody told me that that was a sacred mask or something.

[Paul Heyman]

He told us on WrestleMania Mania recap that it was. It had a lot of cultural significance. But then he realized how much bigger he was than the entire culture, and that's why he was trying to tear it off of his face. So that's what you guys.

[John Cena]

Okay, you missed that.

[Paul Heyman]

You shouldn't Be missing something.

[Michael Cole]

Yeah.

[John Cena]

Okay.

[Paul Heyman]

You know, you shouldn't be. See, there it is.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, no.

[Paul Heyman]

He's like, no, I don't want it after all. There it is. See, that's. You missed that when he was coming out.

[Michael Cole]

That fool couldn't get his. The hood off.

[Paul Heyman]

That's all.

[Pat McAfee]

So that's the best and the worst is John Cena winning because he's going to ruin wrestling.

[Paul Heyman]

Gonna John Cena, with the help of Travis Scott, ruining wrestling last night.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[AJ Hawk]

Last night.

[Paul Heyman]

It's already ruined the worst match of WrestleMania. He took it from us.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[Paul Heyman]

Cody was there.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[Paul Heyman]

For us. Like he has been this entire time. And John Cena ruins WrestleMania.

[Pat McAfee]

He said tonight he's gonna. Tonight's the night he ruins. Right.

[Ty Schmidt]

I haven't seen nothing yet.

[Pat McAfee]

He said, you guys have to reset the whole damn thing. You're going to have to take all your little mark gifts that you got around the house, throw them out because the shit's restarting. That's what Cena said. He said, I know the show will go on, but it ain't going to be nothing like what it was. I'm taking the tradition of this place and I'm leaving. That's what he said. He said he's going to explain it tonight.

[Michael Cole]

That's what he said. He's going to take the title.

[Pat McAfee]

Goodbye.

[Michael Cole]

See you later. When he retires and wrestling will never be the same again. Start from the beginning.

[Paul Heyman]

When you come back, there's a tried and true tradition of you. You put the younger people ahead of you so that the business continues for generations and generations. The idea, Tiffany Stratton goes over Sean. The idea of coming back, announcing you're going to retire and then saying, no, no, I'm going to be selfish. I'm going to take it all for me on the way out. Literally the worst thing you can do in wrestling.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Michael Cole]

Did you tell John that I didn't get to see it.

[Paul Heyman]

I didn't get to.

[Ty Schmidt]

No one does.

[Pat McAfee]

Peabody has a question for you.

[Sam Roberts]

I talked about the matches. One of my favorite things about WrestleMania are the interests. I want to know your favorite. What do you. The best one. Stone Cold was obviously awesome. It was incredible.

[Pat McAfee]

Stone Cold missed the ramp.

[Sam Roberts]

I blame the ramp. I blame giving rap. But he was. He was moving on that bad boy, CM Punk. Seth Rollins had an incredible entrance as well. What was your favorite weekend?

[Paul Heyman]

My favorite entrance was definitely CM Punk's entrance in that Triple Threat. Not just because we had Living Color there, but because that amazing video package that put everything into Perspective that juxtaposed his first WWE promo with his first WrestleMania main event that are so many years apart. I think there was such a story told just in the entrance alone.

[Pat McAfee]

Look in my eyes.

[Paul Heyman]

That's what it sounded like. What do you see?

[Pat McAfee]

What do you see? What is it?

[Paul Heyman]

Cult of personality.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you nailed it. You should have been sick.

[Michael Cole]

Awful.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[AJ Hawk]

Awful.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought it was good. I thought it was very good. Ty has a question for you.

[AJ Hawk]

Thank you.

[Darius Butler]

Yeah. My lord, listen, you've been doing this for a long time. I don't know how many WrestleManias you've been to. Quite a few.

[John Cena]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Y.

[Sam Roberts]

41.

[Michael Cole]

41.

[Pat McAfee]

There you go.

[Paul Heyman]

41 total.

[AJ Hawk]

I'm.

[Darius Butler]

I'm honestly just looking at you for my marching orders. How I should feel about this when we're talking Sin City Street Fight. Is that a top three match at WrestleMania all time? Is that a top five?

[Michael Cole]

Wait a minute. All time?

[Pat McAfee]

All time.

[Darius Butler]

All time.

[Paul Heyman]

I mean, it was really good. That's very high rank. It's not really fair.

[Darius Butler]

That's what I'm saying. Give me my marching orders, my lord, please.

[Pat McAfee]

Top 10, I guess.

[Darius Butler]

Top 10, sure.

[Paul Heyman]

I mean, it was a. It was one of the great matches this weekend is what you would say.

[Pat McAfee]

You go and.

[Paul Heyman]

And you'd say that. But a top three of all time. There's been so many.

[Pat McAfee]

I know.

[Darius Butler]

That's why it was so matches.

[Michael Cole]

Yeah.

[Paul Heyman]

No, I think Drew McIntyre did amazing. Drew McIntyre clearly has stated the fact that now it's time for him to be in world title contention once again. So, yeah, I would say top several of the weekend.

[Pat McAfee]

Top several of the weekend.

[Ty Schmidt]

I think my lord is.

[Darius Butler]

You know that.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so for you're saying that that's top several of the weekend, it sounds like you think great. WrestleMania weekend in the ring.

[Paul Heyman]

Incredible. WrestleMania weekend in the ring. If you look at everything under the main event of night two of WrestleMania. Incredible. The main event of WrestleMania night one. Incredible.

[Michael Cole]

So much.

[Paul Heyman]

So much incredible stuff. And I felt like this year we got to the tradition of WrestleMania. It really felt like the end of a chapter and beginning of the next one where you're showing up now and going, what the hell is going to happen next?

[Pat McAfee]

Raw? After many, it should be packed. AJ Hawk has a question for you. Oh, Lord.

[John Cena]

Sam, how surprised were you to see.

[Pat McAfee]

Becky lynch the man come back and what do you think her path looks like moving forward?

[Paul Heyman]

I was hearing. Here's what made me happy that the man came back. Becky lynch has been. She's been in many forms. She's Big time, Beck. She's evolved, as it were. But there was Becky coming back as the man, looking like the man, feeling like the man, sounding like the Man. It was that reminder of how much she has done. It was a reminder of the fact that Becky lynch is, I would say, the first. First woman to have been in an era, the top superstar in the entire company, and that's who we saw. And her coming out, it's the exact opposite of John Cena. Her coming out and saying, you know what? I'm gonna use everything that I've done to help put Lyra Valkyria on the map at the biggest stage you can possibly do it on. That's what you want.

[Pat McAfee]

Who attacked Bailey, though? I don't like that Bailey was supposed to be in there.

[Paul Heyman]

I don't know. I don't know what's going on sometimes with the security around back there. I don't know if it's a Vegas thing.

[Pat McAfee]

It might be Vegas. I like that. Becky obviously was there because her husband had a big match and just so happened to be able to fill in for Bailey whenever she got attacked on Friday. But shout out to the man coming back around to Las Vegas. Tone has a question for you here, Sam.

[Connor]

Yeah, My Lord.

[Pat McAfee]

Just a WWE hat. Love that. Yeah, that's. That's your fan.

[Paul Heyman]

I can tell.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Ty Schmidt]

I can tell.

[Connor]

Randy Orton, the Viper, arguably one of the most physically imposing WWE Superstars of all time. You think it was disrespectful to throw Joe Handley into the ring with him?

[Paul Heyman]

Oh, no, I think it's disrespectful to you.

[Sam Roberts]

Thank you.

[Paul Heyman]

I think you are disrespectful.

[Pat McAfee]

Joe Hanley, you don't think that was.

[Connor]

Disrespectful for the Viper to throw that fucking guy in the rail?

[Paul Heyman]

No, I think that. I think, first of all, I love. Love Randy coming out. He was wearing the. The same colors that he wore when he was just a young guy when.

[John Cena]

He was first starting debut. Yeah. Oh, you knew that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Paul Heyman]

You guys are all finished.

[Pat McAfee]

I listen to the show.

[Sam Roberts]

He dabbed him up after that.

[Paul Heyman]

So I don't think I ever said Joe Hanley on my show, but I do think it was.

[Darius Butler]

That's right.

[Paul Heyman]

I do think it was a huge moment for Joe Hendry getting that entrance at WrestleMania, hearing a stadium full of people react to him having us talk about him.

[Ty Schmidt]

He already did that at the Rumble, but y. I believe WrestleMania.

[Paul Heyman]

WrestleMania. And look, you get a match with Randy Orton at WrestleMania, whether you're Joe Hendry or Joe Hanley. It's a huge deal. That said, for Randy Orton, it's inevitable there's gonna be some RKOs.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah. I think Joe Hendry, that's his name, certainly knew what he was signing up for, but he wasn't scared, which we appreciate in front of 60,000 plus huge weekend. 123,477 6 or whatever the number was. Michael Cole here has the last question for you. Lord.

[Michael Cole]

Yeah, I do.

[Pat McAfee]

Really?

[Michael Cole]

I saw a clip from the WrestleMania recap today. Karrion Kross went off.

[Paul Heyman]

Yes.

[Michael Cole]

I can't imagine what it's going to be like tonight. What was that all about?

[Paul Heyman]

I don't know. We had the room on. You know, we were recording and we were. We were picking up people as we went. We got Becky and Lyra, like right outside. Gorilla Dominic Mysterio came in the room. We got his interview. We just had the room on. We thought we might get the winner of AJ and Logan Paul and Karrion Kross just barged in. Clearly there were no questions to be asked because he just had this. This statement to be made. And I think he voiced this frustration that I'm sure a lot of people have. And Karrion's really the only one to do it this publicly. That guys like Logan Paul, whether they're athletically gifted or not, come in, go straight to wwe, go straight to huge man matches and. And have these WrestleMania moments where Karrion Kross was. Was. Was going for years, all over the independence, for years trying to make it to wwe, and he finally makes it in and he can't even get on WrestleMania.

[Michael Cole]

Why does Logan Paul have to be blamed for that? Logan Paul's an incredible athlete. He's.

[Pat McAfee]

Guys, unbelievable. He's supposed to be there. What do you want to gatekeep on greatness? Okay.

[Connor]

Huh, Sam?

[Pat McAfee]

Is that what you want to do?

[Paul Heyman]

No, I don't to gatekeep on. On greatness. But I do want to look at people who have given their life to this sport that we love, this art form that we love and go, yeah, you pay your dues. You do it the right way, you end up on top. Look at Michael Cole. Michael Cole had to pay dues. I was at the Mattel booth over there. They're making an action figure of Michael Cole from the Attitude era.

[John Cena]

Guess what?

[Pat McAfee]

Wow.

[Paul Heyman]

Guess what? He had to pay a lot of dues in the Attitude era.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot. Why was that guy.

[Michael Cole]

And then he had to pay a.

[Paul Heyman]

Lot of dues in the Ruthless Aggression era. And then he had to pay a lot of dues in the era after the ruthless aggression era, in the PG era. Now, finally, he's the Goat.

[Michael Cole]

I'm still paying dues. I work three straight days on television.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, Sam, why don't you give a toast here to WrestleMania as we get the hell out of here. And we say thank you to the people that joined us here at the convention center in the wrestling world, Raw After Mania tonight, Sam Roberts.

[Paul Heyman]

Oh, I can't wait.

[Pat McAfee]

You got to give a toast. You gotta give a toast.

[Paul Heyman]

Oh, a toast. To the greatest spectacle in all of sports and entertainment. WrestleMania. And one time for the Raw after WrestleMania, where it all changes again. Drinks up, boys.

[Pat McAfee]

Cheers. Appreciate you, Sam. You're the man.

[Michael Cole]

Appreciate you. I don't toast non alcoholic beverages.

[Pat McAfee]

You're so cool you weren't given one. All right, from all of us to all of you, to everybody in the back, great work setting this entire thing. To the boys in the back, punching buttons, doing the audio through the cameras, doing it all. We appreciate the hell out of you. To the ESPN crew that set all this up with all the cameras, Barcode and the boys. Thank you, Brian on the Jib. Thanks for making this happen. WWE people that rigged the LED board and the speakers so people could hear. Also to all the superstars that stopped by and to all the fans that blew blessed us with their presence here. We've got a very long weekend of WrestleMania. Tonight is the Nightcap at Raw After Mania. 8:00 on Netflix. It is gonna be awesome. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Goodbye.