Charles Richardson | Matt Connarton Unleashed

0:00 Speaker 1: We are bringing in our next guest early if he's oh, let me get that mic up. Charles, are you.

0:05 Speaker 2: There, yes, sir, I am. Well.

0:07 Speaker 1: I appreciate your flexibility and it kind of works out for the best, probably because we do have a lot to discuss. It is, of course Summer Slam weekend.

0:17 Speaker 2: It is today, is part one of this two story saga over there in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

0:24 Speaker 1: So yes, yes, that is a real wrestling town. By the way, I was, of course also on your show recently, the Charles Richardson Show. We should give that a plug. Of course you're on every Wednesday evening.

0:38 Speaker 2: Yes, I am eight to ten Eastern and live on IPM Nation. Actually so yes, so may make sure you check it out.

0:45 Speaker 1: And of course we are now colleagues at Deir Media Group.

0:49 Speaker 2: Yes, yes we are, thanks to a certain somebody who claims to be the king of rock.

0:55 Speaker 1: And roll Elvis.

0:57 Speaker 2: I don't think any music. Sorry anyway, well, we're not gonna we're not We're not going to dive into that black hole.

1:04 Speaker 1: No, no, we're not to say we we appreciate General Scotty. He's our new best friend.

1:10 Speaker 2: Yes, General Scotty, thank you very much.

1:11 Speaker 1: What a great man.

1:12 Speaker 2: He is. He's a very cool cat, very cool uh with it and knows what he knows what he's doing. Man, I'm telling you when when I finally got a chance to talk to him, we talked for like two hours because literally, like I was getting to know somebody to date them.

1:29 Speaker 1: Oh wow.

1:29 Speaker 2: And yeah, I'm like, and he's over here telling me all the stuff that he does with the with with the station, the analytics, how he pulls stuff, the programs he has. I'm like, I think this is a match made in heaven.

1:43 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say so. I'm gonna say this, Charles. I'm just gonna throw this out there, uh notice respect to Paul Hogan, of course, Crocodile Dundee. I think, uh General Scotty might be my favorite Australian.

1:54 Speaker 2: I agree, mm hmm, I do agree. I mean I think he's got less less scandals.

2:00 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. Yes, uh, well, very good. So of course. Yeah. So Summer Slam Night one is today, of course, Summer Slam twenty twenty six. Are you excited for Summer Slam this year?

2:13 Speaker 2: I am, I am. I'm excited for I don't think the card is quite as prestigious as other Summer slams. Yeah, but I think it's a little more interesting and I'd like to delve into some of these things, like, for instance, we're gonna have an interim women's champion because of a rear Ripley's injury, and we're also gonna see the return of Nick Aldust into the ring. So it's it's it's it's interesting. Do I think these are the aldest in Gunda match is the prestigious match? No, I think Gunther will win that one.

2:48 Speaker 2: But I think it's interesting to see, you know how you know, if there's any ring rushed from all this he has he hasn't stepped in the ring for I think three years now, Yeah, so to see it rest on that. Also, we got to witness the return of Baron Corbin and so that that's kind of interesting. He's coming out like he is, you know, he left in a really weird storyline, just taking a year off, so make sure everybody forgot about that. The diehards didn't. But he comes in very confident, very powerful, going up against Trick Williams for the the US title.

3:29 Speaker 2: So that's kind of interesting. So the Dan Housen, you know, Human Money is on a pole match. I think that's it's gonna be a laugher. I think it's gonna be funny. Again, is it prestigious, No, but it's something that's gonna keep everybody in their seats. So the overall card for both nights, it's again, it's not gonna be a wow. This is gonna knock your socks off, but the performance still is out there and it could shock us.

4:00 Speaker 1: I think the the interim thing that they're doing with Reea Ripley's championship is interesting because I don't recall them ever doing anything like that before. You know, they do it in boxing and UFC in mixed martial arts, but the interim champion so basically so, rather than stripping Ria Ripley of the belt because she can't defend it, the quote unquote rule is within thirty days. Of course, you know, it's wrestling, so the rules don't really matter in terms of that's that's something where pro wrestling is, you know, not not consistent in their storytelling.

4:37 Speaker 1: But but but this notion that so rather than stripping her of the title, you crown an interim champion who will then presumably go on to you know, have a match with Rhea Ripley when she is ready to return for who is the undisputed I guess you would say at that point champion. The only thing even close to that that I recall in WWE's history is when they did back in the nineties when they did a thing where Shawn Michaels left with the Intercontinental title, so they crowned and then Razor Ramone became the Intercontinental Champion in Shawn Michael's absence, but because he refused to relinquish the title, he came back and then they had that ladder match, which was you know, that was essentially they didn't use the term interim, but at the time, essentially Razor Ramone was the interim champion.

5:32 Speaker 1: And that's the only thing I can think of that even comes close to what they're doing with this particular storyline with Rhea Ripley.

5:39 Speaker 2: Well, actually I have a more recent one. Oh when sem Punk walked out in the title true, then Sina became champion, then Punk returned. Yep, they were both champions. I mean obviously that was like not scripted storyline material. This is scripted to the point where they're saying, well, we're gonna have an interim champion now in a sense basically, whoever wins this ladder match technically it is champion really, but just rear Ripley is gonna when she finally returns, it just basically shoehorns her in to Okay, you're ready to return.

6:17 Speaker 2: Great, your next match is gonna be this to crown whoever is really championed. So yeah, I don't put a lot of weight into interim. I just say, hey, this is the person that's gonna hold the belt.

6:29 Speaker 1: I think it's a cool idea though. I think it's a cool because it's not something that we're used to. It's something different and it does make sense, and it is done in actual sports like boxing, So I like the concept.

6:40 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think creative has finally come around a little bit. Whoever that may be, if it's Trips or if it's the Rock or if DKO, whatever the case may be. I think, you know, they're doing a politically correct version of I want to cry a new Champion Bote. They're not really really the champion until the.

7:01 Speaker 1: Yeah, No, I like it. I like it. Curious what are you what are you most excited for? Is there is there a particular match that you're especially intrigued by.

7:13 Speaker 2: I have a few actually, so definitely looking for Oba and Brock number one because technically this is supposed to be brocks last match, although nobody's really officially said anything that this is brocks last match because it's in Minnesota. It's that's his that's his home state. Yeah, and there's that they were even talking about on the new w w W channel on Sirius by the way that you catch that, like I think it's channel one fifty six or something, there's a channels exam. Yeah, I was listening to Bust It Open and they're saying Oba may actually get booed for the first time.

7:53 Speaker 1: And all that may him because it's in it's in Minnesota, yes, yeah, uh. And obviously that's where Lesnar is from a lot of a lot of great talent came from there. Of course, you know Kurt Hennig and who else Scott Hall was he from Minnesota? I mean, I know he's in the Awa. Well there's there's a bunch but yeah, but but the Ganias and but but yeah, that's it. You know, that didn't eve occur to me until you mentioned it just now, But you're right, Yeah, Oba family might actually get booed. It won't affect him, I'm sure, you know.

8:21 Speaker 2: And just whatever, I don't, I don't think so. And again I guess said. I think Oba is so dominant to the point where he may not even get booed, right, you know he and even if he does, it ain't gonna be when he's in entrance. Everybody's gonna, you know, march with him down there. Thirty five forty grand people at us Bank Stadium. They're going to go ahead and march with Ova when he gets introduced. But that match in the hell in the South, I think that is a perfect way to end this. The this three match, you know, the the the rubber match really for this saga.

8:54 Speaker 1: Kevin Nash on his podcast is stream on YouTube said something interesting about that, though. He said he objects to the He feels there's there's a certain lack of psychology here with the way this is played out. Because hell in a cell the original idea is or the original idea of a steel cage match or hell in a cell, which is not exactly the same thing, but the idea is, you know, you're trying to you either you're trying to keep out people from interfering. You know, so if one of the participants happens to be in a faction where they have a lot of people interfering in their matches, it keeps them out or and it also keeps you know, makes it so no one can run away, no one can can try to get out of the match.

9:36 Speaker 1: No one can you know, just sneak out and take a count out because you know, for whatever reason, and there's no reason. So there's no reason for that. I guess what Nash was saying is that the cell was not necessary. They could have just had a third match and you didn't need to make it a hell and a cell.

9:54 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course. I mean you could always go to have and have a third grade match and just nobody be afraid of anything. Have you seen the build up to this? Is Lesnar has been running away from Oba whenevery time Obra comes in. So it's and you know what's weird, is Brock actually is the one that said hell in a cell? Yeah, so it's it's you know what, it's kind of weird how it all plays out. But I kind of like two big behemoths inside the inside a cell. Let's make that happen. I mean that's great. And plus there's no easy way out.

10:30 Speaker 2: You can't climb out, you can't, No, you got to pin the person. So I like the hell in the cell better than a steel cage where there's multiple ways you can win by escaping. And you know, I think a match needs to end with a count, not an escape.

10:49 Speaker 1: I agree with you. Uh, Jesse Ventura agrees with you.

10:54 Speaker 2: Yeah, he might.

10:57 Speaker 1: He might be there tonight. Of course, the former governor of Minnesota. Apparently they invited him. I hopeus. By the way, just this might be a little bit of a side street. But I did not like that opening segment that they did on Raw with Obafemi and brock Lessener this week, with the way in and everything. I thought. I thought it was awful. I thought it was tedious and just bad.

11:19 Speaker 2: It was stupid. It's it's just another I honestly, that was a creative bad decision. I think it was just another way to go ahead and waste fifteen minutes of the show. Yeah, it's it's it was like, there's no need. When have we ever seen a way in except if it was for like Yoku Zuna or something like that where people actually gave it crap about way inside well it's not my word there.

11:46 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's kind of kind of weird, and I mean it could have been interesting if they had done it right, but they didn't, and then it didn't make any sense. Oh but it weighs in, rock comes down, locks the cage just and then a way what's that?

12:00 Speaker 2: And then runs away.

12:01 Speaker 1: And then what I really hated was they did the trope. I'm so sick of this trope, and I've been It's one of those wrestling tropes I've been sick of for probably two decades. Uh. You know, they've got the independent wrestlers dressed up as police costplaying as police inside the ring. So then Oba loses his temper because he's frustrated, so he beats up all the uh all all the indie guys and their their police uniforms. And I'm just so tired of that. That's the but I was bored with that probably literally twenty years ago.

12:32 Speaker 1: I I'm so sick of that trope. I actually found it refreshing when the time that uh, not that long ago, that bron Breaker was in a situation where it looked like he was going to beat up a bunch of indies. Uh, he dressed up like security guards and then he didn't. He just didn't do it. He walked away and I was like, oh, that's refreshing.

12:53 Speaker 2: Uh.

12:53 Speaker 1: But yeah, that opening segment was horrid. I thought, I thought it was really bad.

12:58 Speaker 2: So I mean, and did this thing does not need you know, that much build up, and if it did need more build up or anything. If you want to keep it fresh in people's minds and just keep promoting everything, just get out and get Paul Hame in the mic. Just do that. Yeah, that that is always a it fails safe right there. It's safe to give Paul hamean the mic, It's safe to give open the mic. I'll even say recently Brock actually is not terrible on the mic. He sounds like Mike Tyson, you don't match the voice with the body.

13:34 Speaker 2: But he's not terrible on the mic.

13:39 Speaker 1: Yeah. I've always thought he's fine in small doses. He just don't want him to say too much, right.

13:47 Speaker 2: So I am looking forward to this match though, just because Number one, I'm kind of anxious to see where they go with this, Like there's so many things that could happen, Like Oba basically gave up his spot to challenge for a title because he is King of the Ring mm hm. And what you get from being King of the Ring is a chance at SummerSlam, which is now to challenge for a belt of your choosing, kind of like winning the Royal Mumbo. So he gave that up to face Brock. And the reason I think, you know, is a genius reason.

14:29 Speaker 2: Really he did mention it as well. If I did take it, you just screwed me anyway. So it's like, okay, I get that reason. I get it, And you know, he's now faced with facing Brock because of just that the hatred that he has towards him. So but the thing is, if what happens, if Lesnard beats him, well then he's not really championship material anymore. Well I don't think they are.

14:57 Speaker 1: No, but what no, I'm sure Obafemi goes over. Yeah, they wouldn't make any sense to have Brock win, Uh right, I I think what they might do is have have Oba go over, and this time Brock actually shakes his hand and and kind of kind of endorses him, and that's and that and that way, and that allows Brock to kind of go out on a on a high note on a good note if if this is in fact his last match in his home state of of Minnesota, which again would make perfect sense. Yeah, I think that might be what happens.

15:29 Speaker 2: Okay, I mean I agree, I think Oba does go over. I don't know if Brock's gonna shake his hand, though, I think Brock just to the just the history, it does make sense that Broco all of a sudden they turn a new leaf and like, oh, okay, I'm gonna shake your hand.

15:43 Speaker 1: He's been a baby face before.

15:46 Speaker 2: You don't You don't remember Brock is a baby face. I don't remember Brock as a baby face. I mean he has, I'm sure, yeah, but for extreme circumstances, he's not, in this.

15:55 Speaker 1: Case, for brief periods. Yeah, yuh So what else do we have? So we have I'm looking at the list here. So then apparently this is the order or the projected match order. According to bleacher Report, that match Oba Femi versus Brock should open the show, which makes sense because Brock likes to go on first. He'd rather be the opening act so he can get the hell out of there.

16:21 Speaker 2: And then, according to Good, what most people don't know about Brock is Brock is a very big introvert. He does not he does not like big crowds. He came out on Pat McAfee and just says, I don't like people.

16:34 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I've heard him say that many and many interviews over the years. Yeah, that's why he bought a farm in Canada and you know, lives a very quiet life there because, yeah, he just doesn't want to be around his fellow humans. Yeah.

16:47 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I agree opening the match because he either likes to go on first or likes to go on last one or the two. So it's just you want to spend minimum time there.

16:55 Speaker 1: Well, does he ever go on last?

16:57 Speaker 2: Yeah, well when there's a when he was a main eventing matches, yes he did go on last. But I don't think he showed up to the arena. Who's just waiting around, right, I think, you know, probably like fifteen minutes before he's scars to go on. Okay, we're gonna hit your music, all right, go, let's go.

17:13 Speaker 1: Yeah he's not he's not there. He's not showing up at noon and hanging out in catering all day exactly. Yeah. So, according to the list, next is going to be the belichwins uh and Page versus fatal Influence in a six person match. Fatal influence has been impressive and that, you know, J. C. Jane is such a natural heel the match itself. I don't really care much about other than I hope that, uh you know, I assume and it looks like they're doing it. They're gonna strap a rocket to fatal influence and uh you know, they're they're They're an example of when you bring talent up from NXT and you actually do it right.

17:53 Speaker 1: You know, both them and Oba Feme Triple Ah seems to know how to do that. Vince obviously did not know how to do that in many cases. Is but uh you know, so oh fatal influence goes over.

18:04 Speaker 2: I hope so too. I'm just I'm really tired of the Bellow Twines. They need to go away. I mean, great, you went ahead and gave Page a platform to come back, and that seemed to work over pretty well.

18:15 Speaker 1: Yeah.

18:16 Speaker 2: I don't believe that brilliant Page needed to win the titles. I think you know, they could have done without it. The Bells just need to go into retirement and live happier or after. They really just need to go away.

18:29 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm I'm indifferent. I don't like, I don't have any antipathy toward them. I don't feel like they need to go away, But I also don't care about watching a match with the bellas in it.

18:40 Speaker 2: I just yeah, Matt, here's the difference here when I'm thinking they need to go away, is that is two spots that could be filled up easily with another young talent, superstars to go ahead, or somebody else that deserves a shot, right, that's going to be here for another five ten years, instead of people that are on their way out the door that are already Hall of Famers. Right, if you're already Hall of Famers, with the exception Arry Mysteria for whatever reason, if you're already a Hall of Famer, you need to be on the outside looking in.

19:16 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I agree generally. Let's see So then let's see Gunther versus nick All.

19:25 Speaker 2: This.

19:26 Speaker 1: We talked about that a little bit. Yeah, I assume Gunther goes over nick All this. He's nick All. This is still relatively young too, by the way, he's still in his thirties, so it's not like he's an older dude coming back after But I think he had when he when he stopped wrestling. I mean, I think he had a pretty severe back injury.

19:43 Speaker 2: Right, I'm not sure, But he turns forty this November. So he's thirty nine right now. Right, I don't know why he stopped. I didn't get into the reason why he.

19:56 Speaker 1: Had, but I think it's his back.

19:58 Speaker 2: Yeah, I heard it was some type of I'm trying to read it quickly, so we don't have any dead air. But yeah, I'm sure there was some type of injury that was going on.

20:09 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, So, yeah, he's turning forty soon. But of course, you know, in this era, forty is like uh in professional wrestling, when you're forty, you're like in your prime. You know, all the main eventors, most of the main eventors are forty plus. It's it's it's very different than when we were kids, that's for sure. Let's see. Uh So, then we've got the bloodline, the the Usos and Jacob Patu versus l A. Knight, Royce Keys, and Solo so CoA. You know, I had been thinking that Solo so CoA was gonna that this was all just a long way to get to Solo Soca joining h finally rejoining the Bloodline, but I'm not so sure because, uh, he seems to be getting over as a babyface and uh from what I was reading online, Uh, internally, the reaction within WWE is very positive to uh to his baby faced promos and how funny he is and hopefully they keep him that way.

21:06 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm I'm interesting to see where should they go for that. They're talking about pushing Solo. He hasn't done the greatest in matches recently though, but still, I mean that's that's to be expected when you're trying to get your your your footing on whatever character you're trying to portray. Yeah, Solo obviously, you know he was the very quiet type when he was with the Bloodline, and if he rejoins the Bloodline, I think that's where he goes back to and we don't want that. I don't think that's something that you want to have Solo do.

21:40 Speaker 2: He is somebody that can be a leader, that can be a person on the mic. Again, he's not bad on the mic. I don't think he's great, but he's not bad.

21:51 Speaker 1: I think I think he's fun.

21:52 Speaker 2: Uh.

21:53 Speaker 1: You know, seeing that that promo when when he came out and he was mocking jay Uso. You know, because Jay So does that that whole warning shot thing and Solo comes out and he's going pew pews funny.

22:05 Speaker 2: I I agree with you on that one. That was that was crazy. He has his good moments.

22:10 Speaker 1: He really does potential.

22:12 Speaker 2: And if he if he goes back to the blood, I think that that just puts it, that puts stuct tape on his mouth, really and it just limits him so bad.

22:21 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, so I hope they stay the course with him. Then we've got the women's world title match. I'll live Morgan live Morgan defending against the O Sky. We just saw that at was it Elimination Chamber.

22:36 Speaker 2: No Queen of the Ring?

22:37 Speaker 1: Oh oh yeah right, I'm sorry that was.

22:40 Speaker 2: The finals EO beat Live for Queen of the Rings And she said, I see you.

22:46 Speaker 1: That's right. And I just remember and we were talking about this on on Tough Bumps. I think, uh, with Eric and Austin that they're both fantastic, but uh, the match itself, I was kind of boring. I just felt like I'd seen it before. Uh, but yeah, live Morgan versus Sky again. The two incredible talents. Uh if I just wasn't into it.

23:11 Speaker 2: If you want my opinion on that. It's kind And I know you're not a sports fan, so I'm gonna try to be as generic as I can.

23:17 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't. I don't know sports ball.

23:20 Speaker 2: When you have two teams playing in preseason and they're gonna play regular season later in the year, you don't want to give away too much. So I think what happened in this case is they played a very generic with a few spots in their type of match, and tonight you're going to see a full blown version of lending it rep Okay, all right, that's my thought at least I hope.

23:48 Speaker 1: I hope so. And then and then the match that I'm looking forward to the most out of the entire weekend, of course, cmpunk defending against Cody Rhoades. I'm very much looking forward this, and there's a lot of speculation and intrigue around, uh what might happen.

24:07 Speaker 2: I I'm not wearing it right now, but I will be wearing my CEAUM puncture. Good good. I'm tired. I'm tired is a strong word. But I need to see a Cody turn. I need to see a Cody turn, a heel turn. There are the verge of it. They're doing it, They really are trying to do it. It's just it needs to happen officially, full blown, you know, the whole strap hitting Cody in the face, and then one of the live one of the live shows, they got into it and it's like they couldn't keep their hands off each other the last night.

24:49 Speaker 2: So it's like, all right, let's let's do this. Let's do this. Yeah, but yeah, I need we need Punk to win. I mean, I need Punk to win, but I am I'm tired have Cody being holding the belt.

25:05 Speaker 1: Or well, what if Cody wins, but he but there's a heel turn in the process. He cheats to win.

25:14 Speaker 2: Dang you, met dang you.

25:15 Speaker 1: Because here's the thing. I kind of feel like, well, first of all, you need something dramatic if he's gonna pull off this heel turn. But I also I feel like, just broadly in the IWC, there's more interest in is there a turn than there is and who actually wins and is champion at the end of the night. So if you're gonna do something, you got to do it big.

25:41 Speaker 2: That's why they played the game, Matt, That's why they played the game, and that is a regal no sports reference to Oh well, I had no idea, but yeah, it's I'm just tired of seeing Cody hold the belt. You know how a lot of people said, oh, we're being forced fed. I think we're being forced fed with Cody be in the face to be on you. Yeah, but it again, that's just how I look at it. I'm enjoying. I was actually enjoying the nine days Sammy was was champion. That felt good, that felt really good. And I actually want to see Sammy take it from whoever.

26:20 Speaker 2: Whether Sammy comes out interferes and forces part because he did say he wanted to face Cody the very first one. He did say, you know, face cm punk later. But yeah, he's he faced Cody, he beat Cody, so he kind of wants that that to happen.

26:36 Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, that's true. Oh wouldn't that be interesting if he allows himself with h with Cody.

26:44 Speaker 2: And oh man, that's I'm really hoping it just doesn't go with you know, the matches that have interference with I have the most problem with. I hope that this does not have any interference.

26:55 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I suspect there will be. Uh, you know, it's also possible to the punk turns. But I don't think a punk heel turn is really uh as as exciting.

27:06 Speaker 2: It's not in the cards. I don't see being in the cards because Punk is you know, kind of back to part timing. Really, he's you know, playing when he wants to play, you know, So it's I don't I don't see punk turning.

27:20 Speaker 1: No, No, I don't either. I don't either. I mean, he's a great heel.

27:24 Speaker 2: He's gonna stay at straight edge, He's gonna stay straight, but he's gonna ruffle the feathers with Cody and just just take him off to the point of Okay, this is this is the point in overturn.

27:35 Speaker 1: M hm mm hmm. All right, we'll see. So then we have Oh well, let me just ask you to uh before we go any further. Uh, how do you feel about the build up Some some people in the i w C have been critical of the build up with Seam punkin Cody Roads that they they may have missed uh some opportunities with these promos. I don't know, what do you think.

27:57 Speaker 2: I'm I've been I've been happy with the the jabbering back and forth and even like I said, even not on just run SmackDown. I'm even seeing, like, you know, the build up on the live shows they you know, they on SmackDown last night they showed live shows that you know, the the of the interaction between the two from another spot in Illinois.

28:18 Speaker 1: From a house show. Yeah, I got I got.

28:21 Speaker 2: No issue with the build up. What about you do? You do you have any issue? What are they saying?

28:26 Speaker 1: No? I mean I think it would be I think it would have been cool. I know they're not ever gonna do it, but I think it would have been cool if maybe there had been an AW reference in there somewhere with the back and forth between them, you know, because what's that.

28:46 Speaker 2: It would have been nice. You're right, yeah, because.

28:48 Speaker 1: That is a part of of their their story collectively together, you know.

28:54 Speaker 2: You know, you know they danced around that point, they did. They danced around it a lot, and it's like just freaking.

29:02 Speaker 1: Say it, right, But it would have been interesting to hear. But they could have gone even without saying the letters ae W. They could have gone further. You know, they could have had Cody say something like, you know, if it wasn't for me and the company that I started, you wouldn't even be back in wrestling.

29:20 Speaker 2: You know, I think they're they're they're following some Vince's uh characteristics, like we don't want to go ahead and say that or that or that. Yeah, I don't unders listen, even if you mentioned ae W, what is it really gonna do?

29:38 Speaker 1: Well?

29:38 Speaker 2: Exactly exactly, So just you're not promoting them anymore than they're promoting you.

29:46 Speaker 1: Exactly.

29:47 Speaker 2: How often do we go ahead and see people on ae W go ahead and mock current ww wrestlers with their moves and and gestures and stuff like that. Come on, now, they're they're all but saying WWE over there.

30:02 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't think. I mean, I say, if you've got to use it, you know, use it in the story. But yeah, exactly, you know, unless that's coming later, unless unless what the match tonight is the beginning and not the end of their feud. So maybe maybe there's something coming down the road.

30:22 Speaker 2: All right, Well, they gonna move on the same Sammy is becoming hot.

30:26 Speaker 1: Maybe I like him as a heel. You know, this is something on Tough Bumps. I'm curious your opinion about this. Austin and Eric both seem to disagree. With me on this. This was in the beginning of Sammy's heel turn. They they seem to both really prefer him as a babyface and talking about what a great babyface he is, which I agree, but to me, I thought he was more oh and they, in fact, they liked him so much as a babyface, they didn't want to believe that this was really a full tel heel turn that he was doing.

30:57 Speaker 1: And I was like, guys, he's clearly he's clearly heel. Now he's a heel who doesn't know he's a heel. He's a heel who still thinks he's a hero, but he's clearly a heel. And they kind of didn't even want to accept it. You know, eventually they had to. But I like sam he's zaying better as a heel. I think he's more interesting as a heel. I think this whole good guy shtick gets stale. And I think as a heel he's able to play the character with levels and with a certain nuance and complexity that not everyone can pull off, and I think it's great.

31:26 Speaker 2: My thing on that is he has morphed into a third element, and that's a baby heel. The reason why is because he's still, like you mentioned, he he's a heel that doesn't know he's a heel. He's over here claiming to be this good guy. Right, I'm the real good guy.

31:49 Speaker 1: Yep.

31:50 Speaker 2: But we know he's a snake in the grass, right, No, he is, he knows he is, right, he's he's he's just he's doing everything a heel does, except now it's like he's doing it nicely. Yeah, so he's a baby heel.

32:07 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's kind of like what he did in the Bloodline, right in a way. Well, when he was in the Bloodline, he was kind of he was you know, he didn't know he was a heel, you know what I mean, Like he just thought he was. He thought he had found his family, his tribe, so to speak, and he was very very happy to be with with his new family and the blood line, and he didn't he didn't know he was a heel.

32:28 Speaker 2: He's good to work both sides of the fence and he knows how to do it at the same time. That's what makes this a morph into another element.

32:38 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's next level with that. He really is in terms of presenting a complex character. And yeah, no, I'm a big. I'm a big Samy's Ain fan, and I'm an even bigger fan of a heel Samy's Ain. All right, should we move on to Night too? Should we talk about Night too?

32:55 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, We're less than twenty minutes away from the end of the show, so yeah, run.

33:00 Speaker 1: Through it all right? Night two? So up first again. This is the projected order according to bleacher Report. First is for the icy title Penta defending against Chad Gable. I have to tell you, Charles, I almost don't care who wins, and that doesn't That's not me saying I'm not interested in the match. I'm interested in the match. I just kind of I'm just interested in the execution of the match because I think it's going to be phenomenal. This will probably be a show stealer. I think it's going to be really good.

33:26 Speaker 1: I kind of don't care what the finish is. I just want to see how they get to whatever the finish is, because I think it's going to be really good.

33:34 Speaker 2: I'm actually surprised if this does open Night Too. I'm surprised. I would think you'd want to go ahead and do the ladder match first. Yeah, but if this does happen. I think, yeah, these two are primed to go ahead and have a fantastic match. Penta, you know, is amazing, Chad can be amazing. I think they're gonna work well together. Yeah, this is gonna be great. And you're right, I don't care who wins. I would like to see Chad take the belt just because this would be his first singles champion champion in w W.

34:13 Speaker 1: Hard to believe, isn't it, based on how long he's been there? And but yeah, you're right, he's.

34:21 Speaker 2: Played a lot of under cards. He played a short everybody remembers Shorty g. Yeah, he's taking a lot of bumps, no reference to the tough bumps, but he's taken a lot of bumps, a lot of a lot of wax. I think he's he's given his due. I think it's time to reward.

34:42 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh absolutely. Uh let's see the US title match, Trick Williams defending against Baron Corbyn. By the way, I noticed something last night on SmackDown. Uh, Trick Williams came out and I did not see any sign of Little YACHTI with him.

35:00 Speaker 2: Yeah that's a that's I mean, I'm thinking, you know, those two you know, sure, room together, you know what I mean. But yeah, I didn't see Little Yachty coming out. Is that gonna be the case to on Sunday? No, I think Little Yachti's gonna join him because it's a big spot. But man, it's.

35:24 Speaker 1: Just notable though, because Little YACHTI has been there, like literally, YACHTI has been there every week for for you know, like every appearance Trick Williams makes, Little YACHTI has been there. He's a rare case of a celebrity who never leaves.

35:37 Speaker 2: You know.

35:37 Speaker 1: Usually the celebrities come in and they leave, but not him.

35:41 Speaker 2: Literally Yachty probably didn't want to be seen with the rest of the cheese heads over there in Wisconsin. I'm gonna skip this and I'm gonna go to the big one. Yeah, and then so I think that's probably what's gonna happen. Yeah, But man, I'm kind of wanting to see how Barren would do, and I'm kind of hoping he wins. But you know what, how would you take the title away from Trick. He's done everything you asked of him. He's done, He's gotten the crowd over. His just his presence is amazing. His Mike skills are amazing.

36:16 Speaker 2: Everything's amazing about this kid, you know, and the writers. I can see why they keep the belt on trick. But man, it'd be nice to see Baron with the belt.

36:30 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm kind of indifferent to Baron Corbyn. I don't know, I've never quite seen in him what everyone else seems to see in him. To me, he's just kind of there.

36:40 Speaker 2: He's played a lot of different characters as Baron Corbyn. Yeah, you know, you got the lone Wolf, then you had him matched up, then he was like the homeless guy that lost everything. It's like, okay, all right. Now he's coming out, you know, shaved, like he was with some fresh, a fresh look with his with his logo, fresh music, and he's coming out confident. He's coming out like listen, I like the Lone Wolf Guy. Lone Wolf Guy was good. You know, he was confident, he was kicking everybody's behind.

37:21 Speaker 2: I like that version. I think that's the version we're going with, even though it's not the Lone Wolf version, it's something very similar. And uh, he may not win tonight, but I don't think he's going away anytime soon. This could be a you know, this could be a saga, could.

37:36 Speaker 1: Be could be let's see then we've got human money. He's on a pole match, Dan Housen versus Dominic Mysterio. I'm sure this will be fun.

37:44 Speaker 2: Did did this is? This is the time to go ahead, grab a beer and just sit back and relax and just you know, enjoy this one because Dan Housen again, I don't care what anybody says. He's not being overexposed. He's not not not not not did they using him? Just right? He's fun. He's entertaining a lot more entertaining that i'd probably see, you know, goon through Nick. Oh. This, to be honest with you, I think this is gonna be a much more entertaining match. Yes, it's gonna be some hyjinks going on because that's Dan Hausen.

38:17 Speaker 1: Yeah.

38:18 Speaker 2: Also kind of wondering to see how a couple of wrestlers that are coming back. We already know one, but there's another one that should be coming back that should team up with that person that's coming back on Monday.

38:35 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, Big Big Cast is coming back, and so Enzo Amore should be coming back as well. Yeah.

38:41 Speaker 2: Now Dan Hausen has been having somebody covered up on a stretcher back there. Oh yeah, and I'm wondering, is that so.

38:52 Speaker 1: Or is that big cast?

38:54 Speaker 2: Well, big casts would be pushed for Monday.

38:57 Speaker 1: I'm kind of wondering, right thing, Yeah, you're right, Yeah, I don't know. No, maybe I kind of doubt it though, I don't know.

39:06 Speaker 2: Well, I mean we'll see. Well, I mean again, it's gonna be entertaining. This is one of those, you know, intermission matches, but still it's worth watching. Uh.

39:16 Speaker 1: Then we've got a Championship number one contender match between sammy's Ay and Finn Balor. I will say about Finn Balor, I like him as a babyface and that I like his babyface entrance. I think it's really fun. But as a character, I think he's much more interesting as a heel. I think as a babyface he's kind of dull. I've always thought that about Finn Balor. I think he's I think he's better as a heel.

39:40 Speaker 2: Finn Bell is good as a heel, but he needs a supporting cast. When he was basically, quote unquote the de facto leader of the judgment day, I think that suited him very well. Me too, I think that that sued him nicely. I don't mind the babyface of him. I mean, but yeah, I would rather see him being the leader of a group that does evil things like it would be great if you know, he was Samoan and he went ahead and teamed up with the the MFTs, So that would be great, right, And this is actually an interesting match.

40:15 Speaker 2: I don't know who's gonna win this one, to be honest with you, they got so much push with Samy Zan, but Finn Bauer came out last night and it's like, you know what, it's been ten years and I have not got a title shot yet since I had to relinquish my undisputed title ten years ago because the injury, he hasn't really had a shot back, to be honest.

40:36 Speaker 1: With you, So well he did though against against Punk.

40:41 Speaker 2: Oh yeah that's right, that's right there. Well that was an opportunity. Yeah.

40:43 Speaker 1: Yeah, That's why I think Sammy's name goes over because they want to keep him hot, and I think Finn Balor he already had a chance. I mean, they're you know, they're not gonna do that again, I don't think.

40:52 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and I just brought that up. Yeah, you're right, So yeah, Sammy probably would go over in again. Like I said, I I would hope. I would hope they make up for their mistake and put the belt back on Sammy. Eventually, we'll see.

41:08 Speaker 1: I'm not a fan of hot shotting the title, but we'll see. Then we got the five way interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder match Charlotte Flair, Jade car Gill, Tiffany Stratton, Chelsea Green and Julia or Lash Legend. Oh so this this article went up before so lash one last one last night? Yeah, so this article went up before last night SmackDown apparently.

41:36 Speaker 2: Which is interesting too. You have husband and wife going on the same night.

41:42 Speaker 1: By the way, were you surprised at all? Jenny and I were both a little surprised last night watching SmackDown that was basically a squash match. Lash Legend put Julia away pretty quickly. I was surprised by that. I thought Julia would be getting a little more. I mean, I'm not surprised that Lash went over. I'm just surprised that she went over as quickly as she did.

41:58 Speaker 2: It was a very doll match. I mean that the audience participation was nil.

42:03 Speaker 1: Why is this? I was just surprised how short it was. I didn't even think it was dull because it just went by so quickly. But but they put Lash over Strong. It just surprised me. Any any prediction on on this.

42:12 Speaker 2: One, I I want to say Jade and Charlotte going to cancel each other out. I don't think Lash is athletic enough to climb a ladder.

42:25 Speaker 1: Could this be Chelsea Green's moment? Finally?

42:28 Speaker 2: That's when I'm wondering. Yep, I think I think Chelsea may may rise up from the ashes and it's like everybody needs to salute Chelsea Greeny. Yeah, and and uh yeah, I think that would be an you know, that would be a nice storyline.

42:44 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it would be. It would be the other possibility probably being Lash. Maybe they put her over Strong last night because they're gonna put her over here too, because obviously they have big plans for her. And I don't think she's gonna be teeming with Nia Jacks for much longer.

42:56 Speaker 2: Probably no, no, But you know, currently I is with her right now. But yeah, you might be right. I mean, but the Irresistible Forces, there's been no sign really of them breaking up. They just haven't been as active. So maybe if that's one way of kind of like sweeping them under the rug maybe, but I kind of like how they are as a tag team.

43:21 Speaker 1: Yeah. And then we've got the main event tomorrow night for the World Heavyweight Championship, Roman reigns versus Seth Rollins.

43:30 Speaker 2: You know, I would say Seth because he's never lost against Roman, but since they keep bringing up you've never beat me, You've never beat me, you've never been Roman wins.

43:44 Speaker 1: I agree.

43:47 Speaker 2: It's it's not even a case of how just Roman wins, and it's probably gonna be with you know, half of most of the bloodline out there. If Seth goes ahead and goes over, it's going to be the team of La Solo and Royce helping. Oh see that happen. I don't see that happening though, Yeah, I see it clean, I see it. No, no shenanigans. I think Roman just goes over and and gets the monkey off his back, so it could become, you know, one of the greatest of all time.

44:23 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think so too. I think so too. They're both. Do you notice something to looking at this card? I feel like now more than ever, you know, one of the things I appreciate about the current era that we're in with wrestling is I feel like there's more character development than there's ever been, and these characters are allowed to show a lot more depth than they ever have in terms of the storytelling and whatnot. You still have clearly what's up.

44:50 Speaker 2: They're given more creative freedom than they were with Vince. And that's what I like about it, and that's why I cringe anybody says they need to bring Vince back.

44:58 Speaker 1: Oh God, no, no, no, no, that would death for a variety of reasons. But I also the thing, the thing that's interesting to me about this is we have you know, you still have pretty clearly defined baby faces and heels for the most part. But but but because of the complexity of the characters, you also have more complex babyfaces than ever Because if you look at this card, so both main events, they're both babyfaces. Seampunk and Cody Roads, they're both faces. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins they're both faces.

45:30 Speaker 1: You've got the match the Bloodline versus La Knite, Royce, Keys, and Soloska. All six of them are technically babyfaces. Chad Gable versus Penta they're both babyfaces. You know, it seems like like like, we're just in a time where because the characters are more fleshed out and more complex, allowed to be more than they've ever been before, you can kind of do that now, Whereas there there's a time when people just would have been like, what why do you have all these baby faces fighting each other?

46:01 Speaker 1: But now these stories are allowed to be more complex, where yeah, you can't have babyfaces fighting each other, you can have heels fighting each other. Although you see a lot less of that, and it actually and it still all makes sense and it's all cohesive.

46:15 Speaker 2: See the term heal and babyface I think are getting phased out, I really do, because what is the heel and what is the baby face? Well, heal is the bad guy? Well what defines a bad guy? Just they're different values, they're a different perspective in life, the different ways that they go about things. Babyface same way. Well you know what, Now babyfaces can have different values and still be okay. Heels can have different values and be different levels of heels. So it all depends on how it resonates with punkin Roads.

46:50 Speaker 2: Listen, they're both they came in starting, Hey, we're gonna do this handshake thing, and all of a sudden one thing led to another and it developed now in to a clash. That's the good storyline about this Roman reigns Seth Rowlins. They didn't like each other, but they both got fan bases on each side. They're both getting chance their own name, but they just don't like each other, and there's a common thing and that's whole, that whole steel chair. If Roman loses tonight, it's because he's going back in time to get that steel chair for Seth, and it's gonna backfire like it did a SmackDown a Rive again.

47:29 Speaker 2: But anyway, but yeah, yeah, I agree. I think heal and babyface that term is getting phased out. To be honest with you, I think.

47:37 Speaker 1: You still have pretty clearly defined character like fatal influence. Obviously they're heels and there's no there's no ambiguity there. And you know obviously the belichwins and Page or babyfaces and there's no ambiguity there. But I think so, I don't. I don't quite. I wouldn't go as far as you're going with that. In other words, I wouldn't say that that that's heels versus baby I wouldn't say that it's getting phased out, but I think it's but I think there's more because Vince is gone. I think Triple H allows for a lot more creative freedom and and and allows these characters to influence it almost interact in a more realistic way in a certain sense.

48:17 Speaker 2: Because pent Penton, Chad Gable, same thing, both both both faces. Yeah uh so yeah, yeah, you see some of the matches very very minor, but less than less than half are heals versus Babyfaces gone through Nicollege is obviously heal first baby But but yeah, it's it's it's getting hard. It's getting hard to define sometimes because.

48:42 Speaker 1: I just remember, like when I was a kid, uh like Ultimate Warrior versus Hogan at WrestleMania, Like two baby Faces for the title in the main event at WrestleMania, Like that was a big deal. Like my friends and I were just like, whoa, they're they're really doing that. Two good guys are gonna fight, Like it was such a big deal then, you know, So.

49:01 Speaker 2: I'm saying, yeah, it's crazy, but I think it's I think it's going to be fun. Two nights, six pm start time Eastern on the ESPN Unlimited app, which, by the way, if you got YouTube TV. It is now included in your YouTube TV subscription, so make sure you link it up to the ESPN app. They're not going to show the first hour on ESPN or ESPN two. It is strictly going to be on the app.

49:29 Speaker 1: Yeah, they were doing recently, they were showing the first hour or you know, on on ESPN and ESPN two. And I guess, uh, I guess that didn't really just on a business level, it wasn't panning out.

49:41 Speaker 2: Yeah, they weren't getting the subscribers apparently for the views or whatever, so they decided to, hey, we're done with that.

49:48 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, well, Charles, this is wonderful. I'm glad this worked out. Uh and uh, you know, I'm almost kind of glad in a way the other guests didn't make it on because we it gave us more time to talk about summer. So I guess it was just meant to be. Trust the universe. That is something I'm trying to learn. Yes, yes, sir, but please plug your show before you go.

50:12 Speaker 2: Yep. The Charles Richardson Show every Wednesday, eight pm Eastern start time, Facebook, YouTube, I PM Nation. We are on a few other internet radio station sites, but ipmnation dot com. Make sure you tune into that one. You can go ahead and check up me on my Facebook page or my YouTube channel. Either way you do it, search the Charles Richardson Show and bam you get my ugly mug with my sponsorship and the AI generated pitcher.

50:41 Speaker 1: Very good, very good. All right, Charles, my friend, always nice to speak with you. Enjoy SummerSlam and we'll talk again soon, I'm sure.

50:49 Speaker 2: Pleasure.

50:49 Speaker 1: Thank you, you got to take care. Bye bye. All right. That is Charles Richardson from The Charles Richardson Show, and we will begin to wrap up. I do want to thank everybody who joined us today, of course in the first hour