Matt Connarton Unleashed 4-18-26 hour 3

Speaker 1: WMNH will rip the novels. When mattso wakes up in the morning, he gets into the shower and to the top of his lungs.

Speaker 2: He sings wine because all right, I'm back to the radio show now on the best Cheery.

Speaker 1: Oh, World Wrestling Federation for over fifty years, the Revolutionary Force, It's Sports Entertainment.

Speaker 3: Welcome back, everybody. We have entered our number three new Marrow trays of Matt Connerton unleashed and we are live from the studios of w m n H ninety five point three FM and Glorious Manchester, New Hampshire. Also streaming from anywhere. Go to Matt connorton dot com slash live for all your live streaming options, social media links, contact and fos, show archives, et cetera, et cetera. Today is a Saturday, April eighteen, twenty twenty six, and I am not alone. Let me get this up here. We've got Charles Richardson from The Charles Richardson Show on the line with us Helo.

Speaker 1: Charles, Hello, test On two.

Speaker 3: Oh, you sound great, You sound great. How's the how's the we haven't really talked. How's the studio? There? Your your studio setup, which is it's relatively new, right, the new studio.

Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it's it's mostly new. I mean it's basically a garage converted to a laundry room slash. Half of its my studio areas sort of. Yeah, and Dan Alyssa has her own little corner nook in there where she does arts and crafts. It's a it's it's kind of cramped, but she's okay with it.

Speaker 3: Yeah, And everything sounds great, sounds sounds really good. So so, of course, Charles, you are here with us because and what has become sort of an unofficial tradition before a lot of these big events, and of course this is the biggest event thatwe has all year, WrestleMania, and it is two nights night one night two, today's Night one of course of WrestleMania forty two, emanating from Las Vegas. And so very excited to have you with us, and you know, we'll we'll talk all about it. I should tell you, though, I have to tell you up front, and you probably know what I'm gonna say.

Speaker 3: I've not seen SmackDown yet. I don't mind spoilers, it's fine, but Jenny does mind spoilers. So Jenny had to leave because she does not want to know because we haven't watched SmackDown yet. She does not want to know what happened last night on SmackDown.

Speaker 1: Tone to come back in. There's really not much. There wasn't a lot of spoilers, okay there, I mean unless she wants to know who won the Andre of the Giant Battle Royal, which I'm calling a gimmick royal for people that they couldn't fit into WrestleMania, which how in the hell can you not do that? Yes, two nights for crying out loud? Come on.

Speaker 3: Well when I when I say Jenny left, I mean she she left, She went home. She's not even in the building, so I can not call her back in. Uh but uh okay, so she's not even listening. She is, she's in uh uh, she's in blackout. She's in communicado UTCHA until the end of the program today.

Speaker 1: So yeah, no worries, Hey listen. Like I said, there wasn't there wasn't many spoilers. Uh. Royce Keys went ahead and run the Andre the Giant Battle Royld, which again there's no storyline form. They and the the brain trust in there and of course, brain trust is an oxymoron. Considering how things have gone recently, it's just been a downward spyle of for crying out loud and uh. But it's like the brain Trust didn't have anything creative except what a poor guy this guy was he grew up rough, which if that's true, that's great, but what does that have to do with anybody in the storyline.

Speaker 1: He did go ahead and eliminate Tomatonga from the MFT, so there may be something going on there. I mean, hopefully something can be created. But you know, Royce Keys, who used to be his powerhouse Hobbs and a w has just not been really featured a lot except for the past couple of weeks, but against a lot of the backstory, lot of his personal story. So hopefully he does get a chance to go ahead and showcase what he can do.

Speaker 2: Well.

Speaker 3: I think it's good though, that I like that they're giving us a lot of his backstory. And I'll tell you why, because something that I have never really understood about professional wrestling is why they don't do more of that Because to me, and this is why I love that, you know, I feel like we live in an era where there's a lot more emphasis on character development than they used to be. But I've always felt that professional wrestlers, by their nature, because it is such a unique profession, that they tend to be very interesting people if you learn, like you know, you might have a wrestler who on television, they're their character and it's you know, they tend to they may be really one dimensional, or maybe they just aren't doing a lot with them, but then you see them or you listen to them in a an interview, in a shoot interview, so to speak, and you learn about them and you realize, this is a very interesting person.

Speaker 3: So I think that they kind of miss a lot of opportunities with a lot of their performers by not sharing their backstory. So I'm glad that they're doing that with Royce Keys.

Speaker 1: A lot of it, though, I think is caught up, especially with the ones that they are developing or not developing, but they're putting on the air about their backstory in social media and of course in the Netflix series Unreal, so a lot of them, they go ahead, they focus on one or two wrestlers each episode, and they go ahead and give a backstory about that. Like I like Tiffany Stratton's backstory. Actually, yeah, yes, so she was interesting. She's willing to do whatever it takes. However, it takes very humble girl to go ahead and actually make it as far as she is.

Speaker 1: But that's what you gotta do. It's like, you gotta pay your dues. A lot of people don't want to do that, and if they're not being I'll be honest, I don't think it's a lack of trying. But if WWE doesn't take the initiative to dive into these people's backstories, it may not be that great. You know, I know that I did dude going after Jacob Fatou's you know, jail history and his family and stuff like that. But also he's part of that Simoon dynasty, so it's like, of course it's gonna be interesting.

Speaker 1: It's interesting that he turned into the wrong way of the law but has now cleaned himself up, which is why he is where he is instead in the indies. Yeah, so it's it's so there is a lot of storytelling that's going on for some of these backstories. But again, it's very fascinating, and some of these people that are not being told stories it may not be as great. To put on TV. Maybe that's their decision.

Speaker 3: Yeah, I know that. It's funny when you say that too. It makes me think about one of our main eventters at this year's WrestleMania, Randy Orton, who who they You know, there's some things in his past, in his backstory, I guess he you know, he was in the military and he went a wall at one point, and I remember Mick Foley. They did actually make that part of a storyline once when McK foley brought it up years and years ago when he was feuding with Randy Orton. But other than that, they don't ever talk about that.

Speaker 1: It's probably something that he declared he probably didn't want to dive deep into, right right. It's it's listen, when you go a wall, that's not something if you're part of the military, that's not something you really want to dive into. Like listen, it's dark, let me go ahead and get out of here, and those whole voices in his head soundtrack. It might be true. There might be something that triggers and PTSD and stuff like that, so it's like, you know, you gotta be you gotta be careful and stuff like that, where you know, you don't want to.

Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you want to dive into the story. That would be great, but it's like, hey, listen, you okay with this? Then we bring this whole thing out on doing some promos with making everything maybe not. That's why when you saw see him Punk and Roman going at it and Punk said I'm gonna bury you next to your father, you know that was done that that that was unscripted. It was talked about beforehand. You're not gonna go ahead and do that on a shoe because honestly, on a shoot you get but beat right.

Speaker 1: But the person it's like, okay, you're gonna shoot at me like that, I'm just gonna I'm shooting you right now, and everything just goes Hey why so yeah, of course you want to go ahead and you know, talk behind the scenes and stuff like that, like can I bring this up? Can I bring that up?

Speaker 3: No?

Speaker 1: Okay, we'll leave off that. Some people like John Cena, dude, it's a promo. Whatever you want bring up everything, my nicky status, I don't care. He was. He was good with that, right right.

Speaker 3: It reminds me of a and they talk about this in the Wrestling with Shadows. The Brett Hart documentary where uh, you know, they were they were bringing up you know, he and Shawn Michaels were bringing up things, and and there was there may have been some miscommunication at one point about what was okay to talk about and what was not, Like like Brett Hart with his Sunny Day's comment, I'm sorry Sean Michael's with his Sunny Day's comment directed at Brett, you know, for example, which obviously caused Brett some problems at home.

Speaker 3: But but I have really enjoyed I'm curious your thoughts on those, because they've gotten mixed reviews. I think those promos between Roman Reigns and See I'm Punk have been outstanding. I really have enjoyed those quite a bit. And I much more enjoy those promos than I do. You know, the physicality when they start brawling with each other. I've always thought that stuff's kind of boring. Actually, you know a couple of guys brawling on the outside of the ring. But I love the promos.

Speaker 1: It gets boring when you see the two people brawling, like the Bronck and ob thing where you have like seventy five hundred people coming out to go ahead and they and thirty three thousand people couldn't hold one person down rightly. It's like, this is stupid. Just get it over it, Just just cut the let's go to the next thing. Yeah, it's because he gets boring because it's so predictable.

Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, But what do you think of those promos? So you like the promos, assume between Punk and Roman listen see him.

Speaker 1: Punk has always been a talko, always been a pipe bomber, and anytime he does a promo, it's gonna be magical, it's going to be gold.

Speaker 3: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Roman has recently, since he's become a tribal chief, has recently been doing the promos pretty well. You know, he's come a long waist since suffering suck attached. Okay, oh yeah, but he's come a long way. So yes, his his his his promos and his character have always been spot on. And I like that they took a jab at Old I like that, and I like how Sam Punk is persevered in that. Yes, because an old man dropping a tribal chief through an announced table says something, right. But yeah, yeah, these thi and some physicality is okay.

Speaker 1: Obviously when they come in with the security it's stupid. But yeah, uh, but these promos have been spot on gold. I loved every especially when Seampunk is ran on. Pat McAfee. That's another that that listen. I like Pat. I like his show. Yeah, I like his commentary. I was kind of derailed on the show that I'm on the Josh Sodiac podcast by him and his brother like saying, well, he's just he's just a a face announcer, and you can't have two face announcers, and it just gets it's it's very stale. And I kind of listened to what Corey Graves and you know Corey Graves and Wade Barrett, you know they're there.

Speaker 1: They're the heel announcers.

Speaker 3: Really though, well sort of they do that. They're they're tweeener announcers, which is really I mean, you know, when was the last time we had an actual heel announcer, you know what I mean?

Speaker 1: But the they portray it like they'll they'll go ahead and disagree with testatory or sure, sure and that, and that's what it was. McAfee was just always agreeing with Cole because you know, they were bud buds.

Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, total babyface.

Speaker 1: Yes, it did get stale to the point where it's like, yeah, I'm listening to Corey Graves kind of you know, rattled the cage of Michael Cole and Wade Barrett kind of like you know, giving Joe test satory of the business. Yeah, yeah, that makes it more interesting actually when you think about it. So, but yeah, McAfee, I think is a good guy and him turn to heel. I think this is probably one of these things that listens as a as a huge fan and finally getting the shot at, you know, living your dream.

Speaker 1: I think it's always been a thing for him to be a heel. I don't like his heel though, I think it is it's coming across kind of kind of boring, to be honest with you. I do like he has some truth that comes out, which Seampunk also admits is that tk O prices are just outrageous. So he's not really a full heel of be honest with you. He's you know, helping Randy. He's but he's also speaking truth. So when you're a heel, you kind of stretch the truth to your benefit, but this truth, you can't stretch to anybody's benefit.

Speaker 1: This is just this is just truth. Truth. Well, Randy saved the business. I don't. I think that's the far fetched thing. It's like, I think, don't don't think the business needs to be saved, right, I think it's it's fine where I think it's it's great where it is. Yeah, he needs to handle their their business better to make it more affordable for families. And that's where they get out of there. They're getting price, they're pricing out everybody. That's the that's the main thing. But I think other than that, I think McAfee's heel characters is kind of dulled, to be honest with you.

Speaker 3: So here's what I think. I like him as a heel. I think though. The problem is so the last promo that he cut, when he you know, came out and did his thing without without Randy being there, I just thought, like when he shows up and he's backstage and he's interacting with Nick Alldis, for example, wait was it? Yeah?

Speaker 1: That was it was yeah, which, by the way, I found funny. He's like, well, Nick, mister Adam Pierce or whatever that oh yeah, yeah, yeah what did he yeah whatever it was. But he's like, you know, I'm not going to sign this. I like to read through my contract. I'll do it later and then like two minutes afterwards, when Randy's about to go to the station, she signs the contract. That's that was kind of dumb. Why did you have to say that? But anyway, but I liked.

Speaker 3: I liked his interaction backstage with all.

Speaker 2: I like him.

Speaker 3: I like him as a heel. I think he's a good heel. I think the problem is he you know, he's not getting heat well because it's not making it. This is not making a lot of sense.

Speaker 1: And right, that's what I'm saying, Like it's a really bad job at the hell. I think he could be a great heel.

Speaker 3: Yeah, I do too.

Speaker 1: I think creatively, they got to come up with something better.

Speaker 3: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Over, it's too late now, I mean, unless it is Brandyworton loses and then he's done with w W which okay, about that, there is a mild rumor saying that Orton is playing on an injury.

Speaker 3: Okay, you have to write the script. Go ahead about that. Because this came up on Tough Bumps, you know, the podcast that that I do with Eric Pilcher and Austin Hicks, because they were I think it was Eric who was saying, well, they they kind of already they kind of already gave away the ending. Obviously, Orton has to win if McAfee is saying he's done with wrestling forever if Orton loses. But my counter argument to that is, no, it doesn't matter. Or McAfee's a heel and heels lie, it doesn't matter that he said if Orton loses, he's done forever.

Speaker 3: It doesn't that. That's that's irrelevant. Now if he were a baby face, then then it would hold more weight. But McAfee can say whatever he wants.

Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean he's a heel. I don't know a lot of heels, a lot of everybody. When they say something and it goes against them, it usually holds true. To be honest with you, I don't really see that. There was one time somebody said they're leaving the business and it happened, and they ever came back unless for a while.

Speaker 3: Well yeah, but but long term all I mean, First, I mean, how many how many retirement matches have we seen that turned out not to be retirement matches?

Speaker 1: Well granted, yes, but those are retirement matches. Those are not like I quit or I'm done with if I lose, Like yeah, that's retirement matches more like ceremonial matches. You're done, regardless of you want to lose. This is a stipulation.

Speaker 3: Yeah, but even a stipulation, I mean even even if it's even if it's a stipulation, it's it often.

Speaker 1: Put this way, you think Johnson, when John Ceen is wrestling his retirement match against Gunther, If he won, do you think we see him next week on Raw? No, he's done this retirement match.

Speaker 3: That's different. That's different though the Sina will never come back. I mean, he's he's done.

Speaker 1: He's hosting WrestleMania, but he's not gonna wrestle I don't think he's gonna.

Speaker 3: No, he's not.

Speaker 1: He may give somebody an f you or something, but that's about it.

Speaker 3: I think he's You're right right, I think he's definitely done. And by the way, that phenomenon, I mean that transcends professional wrestling. I mean, how many how many bands do a farewell tour, a retirement tour, and then they you know, they come.

Speaker 1: Back because they run out of money. What's that ul They come back because they run out of money.

Speaker 3: Right, exactly exactly. So yeah, so I don't put much stock In what McAfee said. But but but it has really kind of messed up that storyline by the way. So this is something too where I think Eric and Austin disagreed with me, but I said, or at least Eric did, I said. I really would have liked to have seen at least one face to face promo between Randy Orton and Cody Rhoads, similar to the promos that we've seen consistently between c M Punk and Roman Reigns. I think a face to face between Orton and uh and and Cody would would be really interesting and would do so much more to build that story.

Speaker 3: But we never got it and it's too late now. I know it didn't happen last night. I did kind of take a peek at spoilers, I know, because I don't mind. I know it didn't happen last night, So I mean, why don't do that?

Speaker 1: But let me ask you, Matt, what what would you expect have somebody who basically turned on a friend, who basically went ahead and beat them down so bad. What would if if that face to face were to happen. What would your outcome be like if you were doing if you were in creative, and you're like, Okay, Randy and Cody, you're gonna come out, You're gonna do a one on one face to face contract saying whatever, what would the outcome be? Like, it can't be good. You basically betrayed a friend. The friend fields betrayed wants to beat your behind.

Speaker 1: The other one is basically evil and listening the voices that well, they're both listening to the voices apparently now, so I see your point interesting, But I think the way they went about it is just it is just fine with me because I wouldn't want to see face to face to my friend unless I'm gonna go ahead and go to battle, right. I mean, it's it's really you're you're basically egging them on to fight. Nothing really to say, because it's like, you know, there's the why. Well, the why has already been done.

Speaker 1: Well, Cody gave me permission to go ahead and be Randy Orton, and he took it a step further. I don't need permission from Cody to be Randy Orton. This is on the Friday, by the way, I don't need permission for that. And then it's like, you know, he gets off stage Cody. It comes out later in the show, which, by the way, see him punk also joins him. So it's like, and I love that, and you'll see this later Towards the end of the show. Cody's like saying, uh, and feel free to hit the dump button on this one.

Speaker 1: Cody goes ahead and says, listen, if we shook hands and hugged right now, you're not gonna turn on me and kick me in the like everybody does. It's kind of smirked. It's like, there's a lot of people that deserve to be kicked, You're not one of them.

Speaker 3: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Yeah, I kind of found that funny. And then the crowd found it funny too. Yeah. Actually the crowd said, yes, I think they're turning on Cody'd be with you.

Speaker 3: Yeah, they see it. Well, they're they're their loyalties are split. I mean that's the other challenge with Randy Orton as a heel. And I knew this was going to happen. I don't know if they did. Maybe they should have, but you know, Randy Orton at at forty five years old at this point in his career, Uh, they really don't want to boo him, you know. I mean, no matter what he does, no matter how evil he is, they don't want to boo him. It reminds me of when the very last time that yeah, well, oh yeah, that that's a great example.

Speaker 3: But also going going back significantly further the last time, and this does go back quite a way, but the last time that the Undertaker was ever a heel, you know, and it was he was still doing his American badass immick and stuff at that point. But the last time he was a heel. I just remember at that time, and again this was years ago, this was like maybe fifteen years ago. I remember thinking, ah, did they really want to boo Undertaker at this point in his career and he really did kind of struggle to get over as a heel at that point a little bit, I thought they didn't want to boo him.

Speaker 3: So, you know, there's a segment, there's a large segment of the fan base, maybe most of the fan base, that does not want to boo Randy Orton. And I think what will be particularly interesting is the crowd reaction to because they're going tonight, They're the main event tonight, and I won Randy Orton versus Cody Rhoads's I think it's going to be a very split crowd, and it might even be a pro Randy Orton crowd at this point, I.

Speaker 1: Think so, I think it is. I think also in the point that you're making that he's having trouble getting over, I think that's why Pat was coming in to go ahead and get more heat on Randy. But it just hasn't happened. It hasn't worked right.

Speaker 3: Well, whatever heat there is, it's on Pat, it's not on Randy. It doesn't transfer right right.

Speaker 1: So, Yeah, when I'm watching tonight and I'm watching the wrestleman, I'm probably gonna hear, you know, when they go back and forth with punches, which they'll eventually do. I'm sure. I'm sure there's going to be a very very mixed reaction on both ends. Yeah, but I think it's going to be more booze on Cody because I think I think we're done with Cody. I think we're done with WW trying to force Cody down because I think it was a horrible, horrible decision to have Drew drop the belt.

Speaker 3: Really you think so.

Speaker 1: Oh it was horrible because I think Drew number one, you basically are again dump button you're basically screwing Drew. He's been he's been doing what he needs to do. He's been a good employee. Oh yeah, and then you're basically screwing him a possible main event at WrestleMania. Last time he made an event at WrestleMania was when nobody was in attendance, right, I mean, it's it's it's it was horrible.

Speaker 3: He's still got a high he's got a high profile match though against Jacob Pla too.

Speaker 1: I mean, he's it doesn't matter though, that's listen, at the very least having a triple threat with Jacob. I think Jacobs earned the right to lease get in, get in some type of title, maybe not world title, but or ww title.

Speaker 3: But still yeah, like he'll get there.

Speaker 1: The Drew McIntyre thing, I think it was just a horrible idea. It's like, why are we giving it back to somebody that's gonna go We know he's going to shoot movies. We know he's not gonna win. And if he, if if Randy does win and there is a legitimate injury going on, they're gonna play him like they do Jae. They're gonna go like three months with him not defending the title, and it's it's just, it's just, it's just it's a mess. Drew should have been the one to come in there and face Randy and walk away with the title still strong.

Speaker 1: They made him look weak.

Speaker 3: See I think to me, Cody Roads versus Randy Yorton is more interesting, is more compelling because of their their at history. But again, that takes me back to my other point, Like I was saying earlier, I don't think they've done enough about that. You know, they haven't talked enough about legacy, the the stable that they were in together. They haven't. They just they've They've they've left a lot on the table, which the opposite, the opposite of what they've done with seampunkin and Roman Reigns with with those two, they put it all on the table.

Speaker 1: But I feel like they've just let me correct on that one. Legacy, those triple H Batista.

Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry, not like not legacy. Uh wait what am I thinking of?

Speaker 1: I think you're thinking when they were they may have been attack team when they were up and coming.

Speaker 3: Okay, that's what I'm thinking of. Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah. But but the point being, there's a lot. There's a lot there and they've just left a lot on the table. And I don't understand why.

Speaker 1: You're not going to go ahead and talk talk about their legacy or their history, especially if it comes down to a friend turning on each other. I mean, it's it's just not I mean, there's no real purpose for that. I mean it's been brought up that. Yeah, there's a lot of history between them too, but it's been talking, it's been talked about separately, but there's not really Again, like I said, there's no win win in that type of promo. You have a guy that's bent on destruction of hurting people, punting their heads for that matter.

Speaker 1: Yeah, versus somebody who is the defender who needs to go ahead and avenge himself for what was done to him. You're not gonna talk. That's there's no talk.

Speaker 3: I understand. I understand your point.

Speaker 1: Yeah, there's no talk.

Speaker 3: Uh. That's basically what Eric said too. Here's here's the other thing though, I think they did the Orton turn. See they could have done it. If they hadn't done the Orton turn almost immediately, they could have held that off a little bit. Let that tension build, do that promo, do that promo, establish that tension and that promo, you know, in that promo, you know, maybe Cody says the thing about you know, you gotta listen to the voices in your head. I want you to be the viper and all that. And then the next week that's when the turn happens.

Speaker 3: But they could have so they could have gotten that promo in, or they could have taken that the contract signing and use that as an opportunity to dig deeper, you know, because there was that there was the contract signing that they did, and I guess there was a little bit of that, but but they could have done a lot more with it. I think they did the turn too early.

Speaker 1: I yeah, I think they could have. They could have waited, Yeah, I think. I don't think there would have been much difference. I think doing the turn at the contract signing is the only way tables are going to be broken, because if you go ahead to shake his friends and walk out, everybody's gonna boo, you like, what this is not a contract signing. Contract signing has pen paper and splintered wood. Oh yeah, yeah, but there's not gonna be any splinted wood if we just shake hands and part of his friends.

Speaker 3: But but it wouldn't have to be that. It wouldn't have to be shake hands in part as front and and and part as friends. But you could have still done that with maybe maybe it looks like, you know, maybe it looks like Orton's going for the r K O, but but then he doesn't quite hit it or something. I mean, you could have done things to really build that tension.

Speaker 1: You know, there needs to be broken table. I mean, how else make their money?

Speaker 3: Well, that's true, you have to break that slim gym table. You gotta snap, you gotta snap into that table.

Speaker 1: I guess it's crazy all that money that they're making and they're still pricing people out.

Speaker 3: So what do you think about I I kind of get the impression that you're going to agree with me on this, but but I'm curious because you know, you reference all the money that they're making, and financially speaking, professional wrestling has never been healthier than than it is right now. I mean, they're they're making so much money, and so in that sense, it's more successful and it's ever been, even if it doesn't occupy the same space and popular culture that it did. You know, during the eighties during Hulkeamania, or during the nineties Attitude era, into the very early two thousands, et cetera.

Speaker 3: But it's but financially they're doing fantastic. But there are all these naysayers and doomsayers because of the situation where ticket sales for WrestleMania are softer this year than they were last year. But I think that is a lot a lot of that is owed to they You know, they took a gamble and nopeund necessarily intended, although it's very appropriate. They took a gamble running the same city, in this case Las Vegas two years in a row, and I think that has hurt them as far as ticket sales this year.

Speaker 1: Well, here's the take on that one. You know how they're running their model for place in WrestleMania now, right, highest bidder, Yes, obviously nobody's really wanted to play the bidding game, and Vegas came in top again. Yeah, why do you think it's going to Saudi Arabia?

Speaker 3: But the thing is, though they already had New Orleans locked in so much so much so and I don't remember this ever happening before, so much so they did the press conference, they had the announcement, they had the Rock come out and do the announcement WrestleMania New Orleans, and then within what a few weeks maybe a month, they pulled the plug on New Orleans and recommitted to Las Vegas. I mean, that was weird. I've never seen that before.

Speaker 1: What are their checks bounced? I mean, what are you gonna do? It's it's really it's not about let's go ahead and diversify WrestleMania. Yeah, let's not. Let's go ahead and you know, place it in a new city. It's never been there before. It's not about that anymore. It's not it's about money. Well yeah, and that's the big problem to you. You know, it's money. Now. I get you. You're gonna pay you know, you're you're you're paying these wrestlers about the same that you were, not less because they've actually cut salaries.

Speaker 1: But how much money do you need? How big are your pockets? I mean they're more pockets, It's done pants by this point. How big are your pockets? Come on?

Speaker 3: Man?

Speaker 1: I mean by the amount of money that you are generating, you should be giving these tickets away, the floor seats, giving them away and they're not doing it, doing this twenty five percent off ram truck event whatever. That was. Yeah, what's twenty five percent off a five thousand dollar ticket? A thousand bucks?

Speaker 3: Yeah?

Speaker 1: Oh great, I get to sit in the nosebleed section for not five thousand, but four thousand. Yeah that was.

Speaker 3: That was super awkward too, because then they have Pat McAfee making that announcement. So here's a heel, he's supposed to be a heal. He's coming out telling it almost came off like they were mocking people for not for being too poor to go to WrestleMania or something. It was really that whole part of that too. That was very strange. That was very strangely handled.

Speaker 1: I like how, I like how mcfee's going hend soud, I'm gonna save you dirt bag some money or whatever names he's calling them. Yeah, you don't deserve it. But here's twenty five percent of go book wrestling. And it's not even just from now till WrestleMania. It's now till the end of Raw.

Speaker 3: Like it so bizarre.

Speaker 1: There's a time limit on this thing now? Is that eleven pm? Eastern time? And the Raw? I guess, yeah, you know it's on Netflix. What if they do a short show because they don't do three hour shows on Netflix. Right two, it's two hours fifteen minutes, two hours thirty How do we know? Well, hopefully it's not. Hopefully there's some extra time on raw so that can go to the anio website and put my ticket in.

Speaker 3: It's so strange. The whole thing was so bizarre, the way they handled that.

Speaker 1: It wasn't. I think McFee should be cursed, if you know what I mean.

Speaker 3: Oh oh, oh oh.

Speaker 1: I think McAfee needs to be cursed. So, yes, since we last talked that mystery person in the crate, I'll have to I'll have to admit I was surprised that it was him. Yeah, not surprised it wasn't Jericho because obviously have his contract dispute. Yeah, I would admit. Has it been a pleasant surprise that I am a dann Housen fan? Now?

Speaker 3: Oh, I think that's the general feeling. Yeah, Jenny and I love him.

Speaker 1: He's been amazing. And I'm talking about like there was like a pin drop when he came out. I mean, I do those There was an applause like yay Dan, like the people that knew him. Yeah, but like I'm like, what a creep? What a what is this dudeist like going on? And then I'm seeing him on his social medium, I'm seeing him do backstage and impressions. Just the first one with Adam Pierce with his note being dropped in the toilet. Oh yeah, it's okay, I get that. And it's like ever since then, it's like, yes, this is the contract relief I've been waiting for.

Speaker 3: And apparently his merch sales are huge.

Speaker 1: He's not. I think he's the number one merch guy right now.

Speaker 3: It wouldn't surprise me.

Speaker 1: Yeah, I think he's not. If not he's number one, he's very close. He's definitely top three.

Speaker 3: Yeah.

Speaker 1: But yeah, I've been a huge as you can tell on my title here, I'm now going by Charles Housen. So it's it's uh, it's basically, don't cross me, I will curse you.

Speaker 3: So I have one worry with Dan Housen. I'm worried. I'm worried he's gonna get overexposed. They're going to overexpose.

Speaker 1: Him maybe, but you know what, you can't overexpose somebody that doesn't do anything in the ring. I mean, besides that one appearance that he came out, I don't think it's overexposure. It's very short, five minute clips. He's on social media, which is blowing up, and of course he's he's hey, listen, when you hand out free T shirts in the middle of commercial breaks, that's not a bad thing, right, that's not a bad thing. Go ahead and give me free T shirts. But I don't have to get cursed. I enjoy it.

Speaker 1: Yeah. I really hope you see him at Wrestlemanium. I know he's not scheduled for a match or anything like that.

Speaker 3: Oh, they'll find something for him to do.

Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that's that. That's that's him. He's gonna be that goofy character that's just gonna annoy a lot of wrestlers and it's gonna be fun.

Speaker 3: Yeah.

Speaker 1: The only person he hasn't annoyed right now is our truth, which he him, and our truth I think should do attack him.

Speaker 3: Honestly, they probably gonna happen Truth thousand or something.

Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like, honestly, our truth just is Oh man Damien Priest's facial expressions right now.

Speaker 3: Oh that's what That's what Jenny always says too. She she always points that out that it always looks like Damian Priest is trying not to laugh.

Speaker 1: I mean, he's doing a good job. He's not laughing, but you know he's he's doing it as like a what the heck are you talking about type attitude.

Speaker 3: But yeah, and I like the way too, they build that on when you know, when when Damian Priest was still in Judgment Day and our Truth was trying to be in Judgment Day, and and and Damian Priest was always the one person in the group who kind of had a soft spot for Truth, even though Priest was still technically a heel. You know, you could tell that. I always appreciated the subtlety and the nuance of that where you could tell he kind of liked Truth. He was trying not to like him, but he did kind of like him.

Speaker 3: And I like how they sort of built on that with this new this new chapter with them as tag team champions. I'm really enjoying that.

Speaker 1: Yeah, it kind of makes me a little bit disappointed that they don't have a tag team championship match at WrestleMania. Uh, it's disappointing where these two aren't going to be on there. You don't have did did There's just not you know, like EO Sky, How can you not have a match for her? And where is Bianca? What is going on with Bianca?

Speaker 3: Well, she's been she's injured, right.

Speaker 1: Oh, she's not injured. She's came back. So they they just haven't had anything for him.

Speaker 3: Well her and the street profits too, so her husband has also been on the sidelines Montese for And I don't think there's any injury there.

Speaker 1: Ye, maybe you might be right. Yeah, shereet parfits that. I have been kind of very quiet. One thing. I will go ahead, let's let's let's talk about this one here, the the gunta not excuse me, the Sammy's Ain Trick Williams. Yes, number one, another bad move deserved? Oh yeah, and Sammy getting this much heat with Trick, who is also technically a heel. It's it doesn't make sense. You know, Melo should have came up Melos and Trick should be in this match. That's that. That's another bad move. I see, w W what are your thoughts on that?

Speaker 3: I so I am intrigued with what they're doing with Sammy Zain, who I think is basically becoming a heel, and I this is something we disagreed about on Tough Bumps, Uh, Eric and I think Eric and Austin both would prefer Sammy z Ain as a babyface. But I actually I think he's more interesting as a heel, to be honest, and I think he's more entertaining as a heel. And I I like what they've been doing with him, Trick william I think as a tweeter, I mean, he's he basically acts like a heel, but there's nothing like, what can that guy ever do that's going to actually get him booed.

Speaker 3: I mean his music hits and there and everybody goes nuts and they're chanting, whoop that Trick And you know, I mean he's like, he's kind of like the Rock. And this is not an original idea. I've seen other people make this comparison. He's kind of like the Rock when the Rock was a heel, but people loved him, you know, and during the Attitude era, even when he was a heel, you could because you couldn't help it. You couldn't help but like him. And that's what Trick Williams is. He's, yeah, he's supposed to be a heel.

Speaker 3: But you cannot help but like him. It's impossible not to like him.

Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it's it's really You're right, It is really really difficult to do that. And yeah, I think they're they're trying to put Samy's I think Sammy sen is actually being forced into a heel role. Yeah, because of how they how they did this, because he basically screwed He basically screwed Carmelo or eccually me he didn't screw Carmelo, but you know, just having the match, Uh, Carmelo won fair and square, right, and like, you know, he should be the one to go to WrestleMania to face Trick and Sammy you know kind of weaseled his way in there, and it's like, yeah, it's but you know, it is what it is.

Speaker 1: I don't I kind of like to see how it plays out. But Mellow should have been somewhere in there, even a triple to that.

Speaker 3: No, No, I agree. I think Carmelo Hayes is incredible and uh and I really like, you know, I thought it was a I thought it was a good heel, but I really I've enjoyed him more as a babyface. I think he's kind of a natural babyface and uh and very marketable and yeah, and I think they'll get to I know they had, they had a long there's a lot of history there that they can capitalize on. In terms of him and Trick Williams and NXT, they're not always great. Actually, more often than not, they're not great at doing that on capitalizing on the main roster, on capitalizing on history that these characters had in NXT.

Speaker 3: I kind of understand why they don't bother to an extent because obviously it's only a small portion of the audience that's watching NXT. But still, I think they could do better about that. But I think they will get to that with Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes. But I'm intrigued to see where they're going with Sammy's ay and I I think I'm in the minority on that, but I don't.

Speaker 1: I kind of want to see how they spend it too, I really do. Yeah. I see Trick winning tonight or not today? Is it today or tomorrow?

Speaker 3: I cannot I cannot remember.

Speaker 1: I see it looks like it's Sunday. So I see Trick winning to win the championship. I think he deserves it now again, whether creative things that way, I don't know. We'll find out.

Speaker 3: There's no hurry. He's he's very young. Oh yeah, yeah, there's no hurry. You know, there's no rush with him.

Speaker 1: I agree, But Sammy Sane has got a lot of belts under his belt, and uh, you know, the one that's eluding him is the World Championship or the w W Championships. That's the main one that's eluding him. So I think, uh, we leave him of the belt and lectric run electric, run wild on it. I think he should be just fine. You're talking about NXT guys, how about Obama massive, dude, massive, And he is completely manhandling brock Lesner. Yeah, and handling him, and that could go one of two ways because Omas also handed Lesner.

Speaker 1: Yeah, look how that turned out?

Speaker 3: Well that yeah, but that that's when Vince was still in charge.

Speaker 1: Yeah. I am hoping that the ruler rules too, and I think he will. But I also think supplex City is going to be on the road to the rule of winning. So I think there's well, we're gonna see how he feels about that, because I think he has been suplexed a couple of times and he just popped back up and it's like right, takes him down. So I'm liking Oba in that match with brock which will open, by the way, Oh yeah, both nights. The first hour from six pm Eastern to seven pm Eastern will open on ESPN one and two, respectfully.

Speaker 1: The first night tonight is on ESPN Tomorrow night, the first hour is on ESPN two. Okay, So even if you don't have ESPN Unlimited, which you know a lot of sicklers just don't want to do it. But a lot of cable companies if you subscribe that you get ESPNU limited already. Not YouTube TV. Thank you very much, YouTube TV. I appreciate that you just stick us with the with the forty dollars bill every month, but that's okay, I pay it. But yeah, if you want to see WrestleMania free of charge and you're in ESPN or ESPN two subscriber, first hour between six and seven, Oprah, Femi and brock Lesnon will be on Sunday part of that first hour and also on part of that first hour, which is kind of an interesting match that I'd like is the Vision against the U Show in l a night.

Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's interesting. The vision with I Show Speed.

Speaker 1: Yeah, which he is, I show his true colors apparently, uh just just he didn't want to be he didn't want to be a heel. But you know, he got in the way of Dan Housen and started cursing. So that's what That's one of the things I read on Dan Housing real quickly sidetrack. Yeah, Dan Housen apparently cursed a lot of people in ae W but just never followed through. I guess that was just creative. But now when he cursed somebody does actual meaning to it. Oh wwe oh that's heard.

Speaker 3: The best was when he cursed is a dan Engler at the referee and when and when Angler goes to do the three count, Yeah, that was that was so funny. He played it perfectly to the sound he made when he went to count. That was so good. I love that. He could not have done that better anyway.

Speaker 1: So the vision with I show Speed, where as their new I guess he's a new member of the vision right he hasn't been formally introduced as against theos who are seems like there's cracks at the seam. Although then last time we saw him wasn't. But I think Jay is becoming full of himself with l A Knight, which, to be honest with you, it is a travesty that el A Knight is not in a singles match. Yeah, yeah, it's travesty. I want to see the us win, but I have somehow figured out that the Curse of Danausen is going to stay alive and the Vision will win.

Speaker 1: Oh, so I will take the Vision with I show speed getting in the way somehow some way of either just oopsie and they go up for a quick for a quick count but yeah, or something happens with Jay and Jimmy where they're bickering. Yeah, because that's not completely a cohesive unit.

Speaker 3: No, No, I can see a possible heel turn for the USOS, maybe a reformation of the bloodline. Maybe they go heel and Roman Reigns goes heel and they reconstitute the blood line somehow.

Speaker 1: Yeah, well he did. There was one part of that last promo that Roman did is and new WWE Champion where the Tribal Chief takes back. So I'm referring to himself as the travel Chief. Yeah, yeah, thinking of that. So what do you see in the Vision in USOS, though, what do you do? Do you agree?

Speaker 3: Yeah, that makes sense. The scenario you laid out makes sense. They probably want the Vision to go over because obviously the Vision has had a rough time with it in terms of injuries, so to keep the vision strong, they probably want the Vision to go over. And I don't think the USO's or La Night are at all hurt taking a loss in a six man tag, So yeah, I think you're probably right. I like your scenario too, that the Dan Housen curses involved, yeah in this happening, and yeah, I like it. I like it.

Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm gonna go with your prediction there.

Speaker 1: The second match is scheduled for tonight on ESPN. One is fought to and McIntire this unsanctioned match, which well, why just not call it a no holes bard match or street fight? I mean it's it's the same thing. Yeah, means there's no referee and you guys just beat somebody until they're they're dead or something like that. That's s stationed.

Speaker 3: I this is an unpopular opinion, but personally I don't enjoy those types of matches very much.

Speaker 1: It's it depends, it depends on how creative they can be. Yeah, because when you had Anne said these type of matches gimmick matches where everything's involved. You know, you have to have somebody from Jackass come in with a big, big hand knocking you over or something like that. Yeah, that makes it funny. But listen, when you can go ahead and break some tables chairs not so much Kendostick's not so much. Tables is my thing, Yeah, tables, And I think if you can go ahead and be creative, no, not just do the same thing everybody's done before.

Speaker 3: Right, because I feel like I feel like it's all been done well.

Speaker 1: Yeah, but it's like there's some things that still look good and everything's been done to a point. Matt, Yeah, you know, yeah, you know what what looks entertaining really, But in this one, man, this one, I kind of want McIntyre to win. Yeah, I kind of want McIntyre to take take over and just discontinues because you know, again, he's what do you do with McIntyre after that? You're gonna go after after the world title again?

Speaker 3: Or isn't isn't he isn't he going away?

Speaker 2: Though?

Speaker 3: Isn't he gonna? Doesn't he have to film the Highlander, the Newer whatever, whatever it is.

Speaker 1: But there's no gold to this stuff. Yeah, so yeah, I can see what you're saying. Yeah, everybody's you know what, this is the problem with booking these matches. Everybody's doing a movie. Stop doing movies. What's your careers over or you know, at least take a vacation after the story ends, right end at WrestleMania. This should be new ones beginning. She whiz, I mean, stop making movies.

Speaker 3: Yeah, but if it gives you an excuse to have thought to go over strong and you know, because because that guy that that's a he's a future WrestleMania main eventor no doubt.

Speaker 1: Yeah, you know what you talked me, and do it? Okay?

Speaker 3: I want, Yeah, I do to you want?

Speaker 1: I do? I do. I don't think it's the first match, but you got for care against liv Morgan, which, by the way, since she didn't watch SmackDown Live, have you seen Liv Morgan's music video? Yes, oh my god, don't tell my wife.

Speaker 3: But dang, yeah yeah, Jenny and I saw it.

Speaker 1: Yeah. I think she's spectacular, not only audio but visually as well. If she ever does do a music career, and if it's backed by t K O W W E whatever. Yeah, I think she can make it big. I really do she does. She doesn't have to go the way of Nadia and going into only fans or anything like that. She can just go right here into the music industry anyway. The Vicaire has held it, She's done a great job. But I think Live Live needs to go ahead and get some gold. So I'm gonna say Live.

Speaker 3: I'm gonna go with Sephanie Vicare just because I'm so impressed with her. I think she's amazing. They're both amazing, though.

Speaker 1: They are, I think they're both good and mean competitors.

Speaker 3: Oh absolutely.

Speaker 1: I think Vicier is held onto the belt and you know what, Yeah, I Live Live doing it, And I think maybe there's all right this one here for the woman's in her continental ajlay Becking Lynch. Is AJ really worthy of holding onto the championship or do we needed to go back to somebody that's had a more of a steady hand sort of speak. Basically, there should be the end of this rivalry. Yeah, and I actually would like to see AJ keep it.

Speaker 3: I'm a big Becky Lynch fan. As long as Becky Lynch as a heel as a babyface. I think she's quite boring, but I love Becky Lynch as a heel, although if she loses, that gives her more reason to be angry and and angry. Becky Lynch promo, which is really every Becky Lynch promo as a heel, is amazing. I love her promos, love her promos. I think she's great in the ring too, But honestly, I just love listening to her talk.

Speaker 1: I'll take a look at the time, and I know we're running short, so let me go ahead and just breach through these year okay for the fiddle fourway. By the way, I do want to go ahead and let you know nik Kella is out.

Speaker 3: She is definitely out.

Speaker 1: Yes, okay's taking her place at least what I heard Page. Oh interesting, she's been signed to WWE. It's been confirmed all over social media, okay, but it has not been made official on SmackDown. There was no drop or anything of that. That'll be a cool surprise, so it would be brief and Page going up against everybody else. But I I want to see the irresistible forces keep it. Yeah, So I'm gonna go ahead and say irresistible Forces what about you.

Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree. I agree they should have a longer run with the title.

Speaker 1: Seth Roylins and Goonther. I think it makes Seth look very weak if you lose. Well, I don't think it makes him too weak, but I think there needs to be a reason why Gunther wins. If it's interference, fine, but if it's just straight up, I think Seth should win, and I'll take it because division is very light right now, so I will go ahead and just say Seth wins.

Speaker 3: Okay, I don't know. I don't have a prediction on that one. I think it could go either way.

Speaker 1: Cody and Randy. I think Randy saves the business and he will go ahead and win that his fifteenth. I think it's just too much build up and then and just such a disappointment, and course Cody filming a movie.

Speaker 3: So yeah, I think so, I agree. I agree.

Speaker 1: I already said O. But over Brock, I think that's gonna happen the six pack ladder match, Dude, I want Javon Evans. Oh yeah, Oh my god, would that be such an awesome moment for that kid. Gavan. I know he's young, and I know if he loses it's not gonna be a big deal. But man, he's my pick because I think Dragon Ray shouldn't win. JD what is he doing in there? I mean if he wins, that just solidifies the judgment day even more. Russev. I don't even think he knows how to climb a ladder. Yeah, so I think it comes down to Javon and Penta.

Speaker 3: Really it might be Panta. They're big on Panta right now.

Speaker 1: They are You're right, You're right. But yeah, I'm gonna pick Javon. I'm just gonna go off the deep end.

Speaker 3: I'm gonna say Panta.

Speaker 1: Yeah. Jade and Rhea. I think Ria just takes back where it was rightfully hers. Jade has not done anything with that title. Could definitely make something happen. Uh already said trick over Sammy. Yep, Finn Balwod dominic mysterio. But Finn is coming back as the demon. You don't mess with the demon, it's Finn.

Speaker 3: Agrees. Yeah, Finn goes over.

Speaker 1: Yep and Uh see him punk Roman reigns this one. I may need this last sixty seconds to find to figure this out.

Speaker 3: I can't call it. I don't know what they're gonna do.

Speaker 1: I think I think if I do everything right, I think CM Punk drops it. Yeah, I'm gonna yeah, I'm gonna go Roman.

Speaker 3: Uh gone to my head, I would also go Roman. But but uh but I but I think there's I think there's gonna be some sort of a surprise that were that we don't see coming during that match.

Speaker 1: That's that's usually when the pull it. There's that listen times up in WrestleMania. It's like either you do it now or you don't do it at all.

Speaker 3: Yeah, something's coming.

Speaker 1: Well, I appreciate you talking with me. With WrestleMania, I know it happens once a year, and these pos they are mostly interesting. Yeah, absolutely, like yeah, did they pass like gas? Sometimes?

Speaker 3: Do you want to you should plug both The Charles Richardson Show and of course the wrestling podcast that you do with Mister Zodiac.

Speaker 1: Yeah, so The Charles Richardson Show will do that first because it is live every Wednesday. Now excuse me, wow, I just got cursed. It's live every Wednesday now from eight to ten pm, one night a week. Go ahead and join you on my Facebook channel, The Charles Richardson Show also YouTube channel The Charles Richardson show. I have under one hundred subscribers. One of them is also the The Lovely Crazy Joe still of course crazy anyway, so make sure it's live eight pm to ten pm Eastern Time. You can always go ahead and rewatch anything on both those channels.

Speaker 1: And the wrestling show I do is called the Josh Zodiac Podcast. You can find him on anywhere podcast to drop, and I do mean anywhere, yes, so look for it, download it. It usually drops. New episodes drops on Monday. We will have two shows doing here and they're both just gonna be recap shows, okay, tonight, but there'll be two shows, both recap shows that will probably drop on Monday afternoon, Okay, so be on the lookout for that for both nights. To wrestle me.

Speaker 3: Very good, very good, well, Charles Richardson, my friend, always wonderful to speak. Whether you will let you go as we are approaching the top of the hour, but this has been great and I can't wait to do it again, my friend. Absolutely look forward to it. Thank you, all right, Charles, you got it. Take care. I'll talk to you soon, all right, bye, right bye bye, all right. Always wonderful to speak with the great Charles Richardson. By the way, I will remind you too, for those of you who don't know if you are listening live on Saturday this evening for Tough Bumps, we are.

Speaker 3: I think they're gonna be short, but right after WrestleMania on each night, we're gonna do a short stream of course, myself, Eric Pilcher, Austin Hicks. Geez, maybe we can wrote Charleston on that too, but we'll have to ask him. But that will be tonight. Immediately following WrestleMania, we will go live on Tough Bumps Full disclosure, however, and the guys already know this Jenny and I because of my schedule, we're gonna be behind probably, so they're gonna have to let me know when WrestleMania is actually over, because Jenny and I will probably still be watching because we haven't even watched SmackDown yet.

Speaker 3: So but that's okay. They'll let me know, and I don't mind spoilers. Jenny does not like spoilers. I don't mind. I almost don't have the discipline to avoid them. I like to I like to know what happened right when it happened, so so you can look for that. Of course, check out Tough Bumps. Thank you everybody who joined us today. Of course, in the first hour we had Melanie from of course the band Ashes of Autumn and really enjoyed speaking with her. In the second hour, of course, we had Stephen de Cure here live in studio and that was wonderful.

Speaker 3: And I've got this amazing CD that he gave us. Check out his new CD when it's available. It's not out yet, but it's coming soon. One Eye toward the Sun, his great six song acoustic EP. And then of course in the third hour we had the great Charles Richardson. That's gonna do it for us for now. I'll leave you with a little bit of the demolition theme. They were finally finally demolition in the WWE Hall of Fame. That just happened. And that's it for us for now. If you missed any part of today's show, it will be up in just a little bit Wmnhradio dot orgon my website Matt Connerton dot com.