15th Anniversary Awards Show Special & Elimination Chamber preview | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #785 – 02/27/25

0:00 It's still real to me, damn it! [MUSIC] >> Welcome everybody, welcome to this week's This and This, The Still Real To Show Episode number 785 for February 27, 2025. This is your WWE Elimination Chamber, preview and prediction edition of SRTU. I am on app to show I am Jeff Peck, joined every single week of my course, the only doctorate Franklin, Dr. Tre, are you willing to sell your soul, my friend?

0:43 >> That implies I still have one, I think I sold mine for some magic beans or for a date with a pretty girl years ago. My heart is typically very, very black. But yeah, if the rock approached me, it was like, hey man, I want to buy your soul. Look, that guy's got just as much money as God, so I signed something over to him. >> Yeah, you have very interesting times in WWE, Dwayne the Rock Johnson return. I was able to get caught up on that, and now we find out Will Cody Rhodes in fact sell his soul to Dwayne Johnson on Elimination Chamber, just a couple of days.

1:24 >> Now, if he sells it in Canada, is there a higher sales tax rate in Canada than you? >> I would believe it, so. >> My concern is if there's any tariffs on the soul. >> That's true, and then technically, you've got to have work pieces, so if the rock have the right visas to make an offer for work to be done in Canada as well. I mean, the rock might get arrested, who knows? >> If only we had a WWE Hall of Famer in office. >> That is true, I think rock knows a guy, I guess we'll drag it across. >> Yeah, there's a couple people that he may know that is currently serving on the cabinet of our United States government. I don't want to get down that avenue, but I will get into an awful segue, but nonetheless, here we are.

2:07 For everybody who reached out after last week's episode, thank you so much. A lot of amazing messages came my way, or comments on the episode. It means a lot to me, it was obviously a show that we hope to never do again. Very rare does the still real to us show actually become real. And for the first time ever in the history of the show, it unfortunately did under very unfortunate circumstances. It was a really cathartic episode helped out with the time certainly. And for everybody who downloaded, listened, shared kind words, thank you so much.

2:50 You allowed us 45 minutes to get away from the world of professional wrestling and talk about something very, very real. And I just wanted to say thank you to everybody who reached out, it meant a lot to us. And we're going to do our best to put our best foot forward, moving forward here. As we approach the road to WrestleMania, so everything that we typically do here is back on this week's edition of the podcast. We're going to do the 50th anniversary of Warchow Special. We'll go through our WrestleMania 41 card roundup because we missed a new confirmed match. And then of course we will preview and predict this Saturday is WWE elimination chamber, PLE in Toronto, Canada. But again, I just wanted to thank everybody for all the support.

3:31 And the way we go with this show here, Dr. Trey, and we'll get into now what we were planning on doing last week, the SRTU 15th anniversary of Warchow Special. First and foremost, it is absolutely insane that you and I, this podcast is celebrating 15 years of talking professional wrestling. >> Yeah, what's the old saying? They never thought we'd last. It all honestly, when you and Eric started the show, what were you thinking like a couple years? And then when I came on, I'm like a couple more years and 15 years later we're still doing it.

4:11 I mean dear God Jeff, I was younger than you are now when we started the show. >> Yeah. >> It's crazy if I mean, Carmen, my daughter was two and she's a senior in high school about to graduate in three months. I mean, that's literally how long we've been doing this. So it's incredible, I appreciate everybody's support for us lasting this long. Most importantly, like in 15 years, I don't think you and I have ever really spoken ill of the other person. >> No. >> In 15 years, like we've just been like, no, that's my partner, that's my sidekick, that's my dude. Like we just roll on and so there you go. >> Yeah, yeah, we just sit here, we talk professional wrestling.

4:53 Like I listened back to last week's episode and it was like I had made this thing and it is so true. I mean, it is podcasting in general nowadays. You're basically listening to a phone call between two friends who talk professional wrestling for 45 minutes to an hour. And that's what we've been doing forever. I think Dr. Tray, your first episode was like show number 10, episode number 10, fill in for Eric R. Jouillo, then you joined officially as a full time co-host just before WrestleMania 28. Rock and scene in Miami, Florida. And here we are, we're getting ready for WrestleMania 41. I've launched this thing in February 2010. I think you and I have known each other 17 years now. I think two years prior was the EA game show era, which I've talked about at Nazim here on the show.

5:39 We're Dr. Tray and I first became acquaintances with one another and then we did a podcast a year later in 2009 in New York City with Bauer, like a live wrestling trivia show. And then yeah, we've been off to the races here and when this first started, this was just like, hey, I think it's time, Bauer and Chris Cause who were doing the wheelhouse with me at the time. I was just working as a third chair, producer, role. I think it's time for you to go off on your own a little bit, go do this podcast, talk professional wrestling. You enjoy your passion about this, we'll get your foot in the door in doing podcasting in radio. And here we are 15 years later and we're still covering it. There's certainly been times where I thought it was reaching the end and it's been revitalized and rejuvenated and gotten another way of life.

6:25 It's there's been some amazing things we've covered. There's been some tragedies and professional wrestling we've covered. We survived the pandemic, which was the most unique era of SRTU, I think of the entire time. We had Dave Willis, the guy who literally says it's still real to me, dammit, on our podcast at one time during the pandemic era. And yeah, this shows it's still around and it's an opportunity for two guys who enjoy professional wrestling to talk about it. And I don't think that there's been a run of really good professional wrestling in the last five to six years that we've had this entire time.

7:06 It's been a lot of fun watching professional wrestling. And I think as time goes on and we get through WrestleMania here, there's some ideas that I have in regards to the show evolving some. Whether it be subscription based to try to fund Dr. Trainai, doing the, being able to pay for peacock every year. So we can watch PLEs. And then you do a subscription based model and maybe you have the ability to do more things and be more of an intimate setting with your listeners where you're doing bonus shows just for those. There's certainly been ideas of video podcasting out there since that all of a sudden has become really big in booming right now.

7:50 So there's a lot of things out there with a lot of good ideas, but this is still audio only where we've been since day one. And to recap the last 15 years here on this week's issue show is going to be pretty cool and special. And let's get into it, Dr. Trainai, which is the very first topic or first category for the award show is our top new story of the last 15 years. This is formerly known as the in-ring and out of the ring story of the year. At the 10th anniversary back in 2020, I had CM Punk walking out of WWE, which is back in 2014 and you had the launch of AEW, which was in 2019. Let's go with our 15th anniversary winners. For me, my top new story of the last 15 years and this was really tough.

8:34 It did up end the CM Punk walking out of WWE back in 2014. It came down to what I eventually picked as the winner and the COVID-19 pandemic. And I went with Vince McMahon retiring and Triple H taking over WWE creative in content. And the reason being for that, Dr. Trainai is because it's basically turned the industry upside down in such a good way as made WWE whole and healthy and has made professional wrestling so much more fun to watch from WWE standpoint. So that is my top new story of the last 15 years. Vince McMahon retiring and Triple H taking over WWE. What's a yo? >> Yeah. I mean, that's a great one. Mine's changing also. I love yours because it did kind of shift where professional wrestling is headed because if you feel good last 15 years, I mean, I'm sitting, I was scrolling through our top new stories, things like that.

9:21 I'm like, man, there were some really dark times in those first 10 years. But last five years, we've had big stories all year long. So mine's changing as well. Like I'm going with WWE being sold to endeavor in force TK group holdings along with the UFC. Just because I never thought there'd be a day where WWE was owned by somebody outside of the McMahon family. I just thought this was always going to be a family business. It made Vince a billionaire. I thought it would get passed down to Stephanie or Shane in the train, we just keep on rolling.

10:02 This new deal has kind of changed a lot of things and the way things are being handled, it's changed how WWE presents its product, it's changed the rest of their schedules. Made it much more friendly to performers in WWE. So WWE getting sold to endeavor is my top news story the last 15 years. >> Yeah, I think that's right. It basically aligns with everything that both of our choices here align with major change in WWE. And what's really funny is I was thinking about this recently is when you go back in the time and you take a look at that time period doctor try, there was a major part of me that was like concerned about endeavor taking it over and no longer being in McMahon hands.

10:48 And thank God I was wrong because it is so much better. I mean I was just watching prior to the show I'm still catching up on a lot of wrestling. I was watching Gunther and Akira Tzazab from RAW this past Monday. And the mention is they mentioned during the episode that Akira Tzazabah was a 24/7 champion. And I was like my God, I forgot that they did that title because Vince had this idea. And it was so way past its time. It was like the amount of things WWE was doing back then on Vince's reign. It was like this is why AW is pulling away. So it was nice to see that the changes have been positive because I was worried at first quite honestly.

11:33 >> And I'm not glad, there's still part of me that worries that if Triple H ever has to step away. Like to me, there's that continuity of going from Vince to Triple H. We saw how successful NAC Black and Gold was under Triple H. So I wasn't worried about Triple H being in charge of creative. My only concern is if Triple H ever steps away, who then ascends that man. As long as it's under that learning tree of, so to speak, Vince and Dusty, the Triple H, a little bit was Sean running in NXT now because NXT is really good. As long as it stays in that family, I think we'll have extended success. But if they ever pull a TNA and fire a guy like Scott DeMort who kind of saved TNA in a while, always if they were like Triple H and Sean go and put this in somebody's hands outside of the wrestling world, then the wheels might fall off a bit.

12:31 >> All right, Dr. Trey, let's get to the next category here. It is the top breakout star of the last 15 years. During our 10th anniversary special in 2020, both of us had selected the shield. So who is the top breakout star or stars of the last 15 years? I went first during the last category, Dr. Trey. So let's start with you, who is your top breakout star in the last 15 years? >> So, I, you know, I, I, I, not gonna lie Jeff, I cheated a little bit on this because basically I went off who we had 10, you know, five years ago and then just looked at our award winners over the last five years. And just to see if anybody had ascended higher than what we've picked before.

13:13 And when you look at a group like the shield with Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Slash, John Moxley, and what they've accomplished in our 15 years, I, I don't think anything can top that. So the shield is still my biggest breakout star slash stars of the last 15 years. I mean, dear God, that's what, four, six, like there's like 15 world championships between those three guys alone. Like it's gonna be hard to top anything that these guys have done in our 15 years. >> Yeah, Dr. Trey, I'm gonna make this sweet and short as well. So I picked the shield as well to remain as the top breakout star of the last 15 years. And you think I think you hit it on the head there.

13:54 I mean, those three guys have had such a big impact and our part of the torchbearers of today's current climate of professional wrestling in both W and W, at least here in the United States. Those three guys have had the biggest impact and I don't see anybody ever. If we do a 20th anniversary, anybody ever taking this mantle away from the shield as the top breakout star of the last 15 years. So both Dr. Trey and I keeping the top breakout star of the year to be the shield from WWE. And then that takes us to our next category here. Top moment of the last 15 years.

14:34 Back during our 10th anniversary special, Dr. Trey and I both had selected Brock Lesnar beating the Undertaker at WrestleMania 30 back in 2014 in WWE. And when I was looking at the top moment for the last 15 years, similar to the last category, Dr. Trey, it is very hard to take this away from the previous winner. So my selection again for the 15th anniversary, the top moment of the last 15 years. Brock Lesnar defeating the Undertaker at WrestleMania 30 and ending the streak. What's a you, Dr. Trey? >> So this is where I'm going to be a little different, mine did change. Because it's a little bit plays into the history of the show and when I say moments, it's, how did I feel?

15:20 And for me, I go back to 2021. It was CM Punk returning to professional wrestling at AEW rampages first dance. That was something I never saw thought we'd see again. The emotions, the crowd response, Chicago, all of those things, CM Punk coming back to wrestling. And what's he in? Not a huge Brock Lesnar fan, Undertaker, I love Undertaker, but he's not in my top five, top 10 maybe of favorite wrestlers of all time. That moment was amazing and shocking and special, but CM Punk's in my top five of all time. And so it's hard for me to go against that when it talks about moments and emotions.

16:02 Punk returned to professional wrestling, blew me away, so that's my top moment in the last 15 years. >> Yeah, I thought the same thing when it came to CM Punk. I had him down for either rampage or his return WWE at Survivor Series as moments that really stood out to me. So I decided to still stick with Brock Lesnar and Undertaker because of what you're saying the emotion. But the punk stuff was definitely like a two or three for me, so I'm very happy that you added it in there in your response, Dr. Try. >> Yeah, it's split because I think that the return at Survivor Series was shocking, but we didn't hear him talk. The return at Rant, the return at AEW, we got to hear him on the mic a little bit and you kind of like, oh yeah, this is why we love him so much.

16:46 And honestly, the Undertaker, Blizzard thing right now might be third or might be third on my list because the stone cold Kevin Owens matches up there too. >> Wow, that's pretty cool. I mean, that's definitely one that's up there, so. Yeah, very nice, Dr. Try. I think that's a great selection as well. And let's get to the next category here, which is our top event of the last 15 years, which pay-per-view, PLE, whatever you'd like to call it, is this show that is the top rated show in the history of this over the show. Over the last 15 years, back at the 10th anniversary in 2020, we both selected WWE SummerSlam 2014.

17:29 And now we will see who is the selection for the 15th anniversary special here in 2025. Dr. Try, I went first the last time, so let's start with you, my friend. What is the top event of the last 15 years? >> So for me, as I'm looking over our results for the last five years, and they kind of measure it against SummerSlam 14, that was a fantastic show, but. I kind of alluded to my last answer. I got to go with WrestleMania 38 and predominantly because of the return to the ring of Stone Cold Steve Austin fighting arguably, our favorite wrestler in the history of SRTU, Kevin Owens, and a fun match.

18:09 It was entertaining, and then both nights from top to bottom were really good cards, really entertaining. I mean, Ferry selling that stunner as well on the others who's fan, all that stuff from the one. WrestleMania 38 right now is my top rated show last 15 years, especially off emotional fields as well. >> Well, I mean, that's not a surprise that this show is in there because Dr. Try and I talk very lonely about WrestleMania 38, 39, 40, compared to WrestleMania 17, 18, 19. In regards to the history of some of the top trilogies of professional wrestling and WrestleMania of all time. And while Dr. Try went with WrestleMania 38, I went with the highest rated show I have ever selected in the history of this podcast.

18:54 And that is WrestleMania 39 from 2023, back in Los Angeles, California. Some amazing matches took place on both those cards, whether it be Cody and Roman one, Rio Ripley and Charlotte Flair. You had Rey Mysterio and Dominic Mysterio taking place, you had Gunther, Shamus, Drew McIntyre, just a great show. I don't think you could go wrong with any of these most recent WrestleMania's Dr. Try. So I went WrestleMania 39, you went WrestleMania 38. And I think that's the right selection for the both of us here when it comes to top events at the last 15 years because I felt like that trilogy of WrestleMania did outshine most shows that we've seen in the history of this podcast.

19:35 Yeah, the crazy thing was I'm looking at the results right now and for our year end awards, like you have to go all the way back to 2015 for us to have picked a WrestleMania. Everything else after WrestleMania was NXT's, All Ends, NXT's, it's Summer Slams. And then the last three years, both of us have had the WrestleMania's as our show of the year, which is the way it's supposed to be. So I think the last three WrestleMania might go down as maybe the greatest trilogy in the greatest three WrestleMania together because I think those are probably our three highest rated pay per views in the last 15 years as well. >> Yeah, they certainly are and great, great WrestleMania's and I would love to see a fourth one added in just about six weeks or so with WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.

20:25 Let's get to our next category here, the top feud of the last 15 years, which wrestling feud has been our favorite in the history of the still real-time show. Back at the 10th anniversary in 2020, both Dr. Trey and I, it's elected Kevin Steen and Elgin Ericko from 2010 in Wring of Honor. Those two men are now known as Kevin Owens and allegedly, Sami Zayn. And that takes us now to the 15th anniversary and who we think is the top feud of the last 15 years. And this may come off as boring Dr. Trey, we will cover a match of theirs that will be taking place ironically enough this Saturday in the Roger Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

21:08 For me, no change whatsoever. It is Kevin Steen versus Elgin Ericko from 2010 in Wring of Honor wrestling. This feud is carried over from the independence to Ring of Honor to NXT, to WWE on the main roster, whether it be Raw or Smackdown. They have been foes at a WrestleMania like they were at WrestleMania 37 and they have been tag team partners like they were at WrestleMania 39, another great match from that show. Between them and the Usos for the WWE tag team championship, the only time a tag team match has headlined. The tag team championship matches had lined a WrestleMania and here we are, this Saturday they are still feuding.

21:48 They still have people captivated on-sacian match at a elimination chamber. It is quite poetic Dr. Trey, but my top feud of the last 15 years remains to be Kevin Steen versus Elgin Ericko. >> Yeah, it's amazing that you and I have both said we really were in the past. We've said we wanted this match at WrestleMania and we got them at tag team partners. I think twice now at WrestleMania's because they also teamed up in New Orleans against Shane and Bryan, Daniel Bryan. So we've had them as tag team partners twice. I think they were in one intercontinental ladder match, one of those scramble matches. >> It was like 32 in Dallas. >> Yeah, but we've never had them one on one and we're getting in basically a month and a half early.

22:32 >> No, no, no, we got it at 37. Remember the one right after the pandemic and Tampa. See, I have complete pandemic era is almost all washed. >> That was the one where Logan Paul was sitting ringside. >> Okay, yeah, see in my head, the only pandemic WrestleMania I'll tell my head is Rollins and Owens. That's because the dive off the top of the weird tight and tron type thing. But where they're at now, the fact that this rivalry has gone on 15, like I should probably longer than 15 years, because like 15 years ago, it was in Ring of Honor and they were feuding on the indies before that. This rivalry has gone on for 20 years. So it's going to be really hard to top. I was thinking about as you were answering, I'm like, I don't know if this is the greatest rivalry in the history of professional wrestling, like dusty flair, staying flair, Hogan Piper, those are iconic feuds.

23:27 I don't know just because they really haven't been technically top of the card in a world title few. That might be why it's pushed down, but arguably this may be the greatest rivalry in the history of professional wrestling. So for my 15 year, it's still Steena Jnereko. By the way, what was Eric Garzulo smoking back in 2010 to pick Cena and Batista over this feud? What was he on? >> He was not watching Ring of Honor. >> Okay. >> Eric and Ring of Honor, I think there was a little bit of beef there. So original voice of R.O.H., he was not watching R.O.H. as in depth as I was. >> That was a good, I mean, Cena Batista, that was a good little rivalry, but yeah, it didn't measure up to what Jnereko and Steena were doing.

24:14 >> No, not at all. And it's one that I highly advise anybody to go out there and check out because it's amazing. Watch those 2009, in 2010, Ring of Honor when those two guys were going at it. One of the best feuds, the best feud in the last 15 years, one of the best feuds I've ever seen in my entire life. I want to come for fresh and wrestling. And then I am very interested in this next category, Dr. Trey. It is the top match of the last 15 years. During our 10th anniversary special in 2020, I had selected Bayley versus Sasha Banks from NXT Takeover Brooklyn in 2015. You had selected the Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania 26 back in 2010.

24:56 And here we are today, ready to hand out the 15th anniversary top match of the last 15 years, Dr. Trey. You started off my friend, what was the top match in your opinion of the last 15 years? >> This one is really, really hard for me because my top two choices involve characters I love. It's really hard to beat the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels match from WrestleMania 26. Like Shawn's farewell match, the whole thing, the emotions, because I was still a diehard Shawn Michaels fan of this day. I think I'm going to switch though, I think I'm going to go with WrestleMania 38, Kevin Owens and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

25:37 Because for me, Stone Cold was the epitome of really my deep dive love into professional wrestling and wanting to get involved in professional wrestling. And Kevin Owens is the guy I always aspired to be in professional wrestling. That's seeing Owens as like who I envision my character kind of being in professional wrestling. And to see those two generational talents crossbaths at WrestleMania 38 in a match that honestly was not a great, it wasn't a great take on match, it was just a fight, but the emotions, the fan interaction, the whole nine yards. Get Austin Owens WrestleMania 38, beating Undertaker Shawn Michaels for me just in emotional feels more than anything else and just feel good moment the whole nine yards.

26:25 Especially seeing Kevin Owens get the rub from Stone Cold in that match, it just great was great for his career. >> Yeah, I feel like a lot of people forget that professional wrestling is based on entertainment and emotion as well and people just want to see these great athletic clinics, which obviously help. But when you got the crowd of the palm of your hand that is a special moment that Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kevin Owens match had that. I remember being on the couch watching WrestleMania 38 live and just being like, I can't believe this is happening. This is so much fun sitting here, I'm like looking around, like does anybody else watch this? Stone Cold Steve Austin is wrestling in 2022 and he hasn't missed a beat. And we haven't seen him back since but man that was such a cool moment.

27:06 So Dr. Trigone was Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kevin Owens in a no holds barred match from WrestleMania 38 is a great call. That was certainly on my list as a match that I would consider handing the ward out to. But again, Dr. Trigone, going back to what I said, having the crowd in the palm of your hands and emotion and a great match overall. Another boring answer for me, but Bailey versus Sasha Banks from NXT takeover Brooklyn in 2015. That is a game changing industry altering match because from that point forward, I felt like people were starting to respect women's wrestling. But that match happened and people were like, there's something there, you could watch women's wrestling.

27:47 Now, just as well as the men. So I thought that was a huge, huge moment in progression wrestling. I love that match still. One of those rare matches that I'll go back to and watch again. So I key my pick as for the 50th anniversary top match of the last 15 years, Bailey versus Sasha Banks from NXT takeover Brooklyn. >> No, and it's absolutely a game changing moment in history professional wrestling. Like it literally altered the course of women's wrestling. It launched the revolution. They've both gone to become Hall of Fame, Calibre Talents. I am always a little jaded towards one person in that match more than the other. But it's still a fantastic match to go back and watch. Taking personal opinion out of it.

28:28 But yeah, it's hard, they're like, there are so, there are so many good matches for those early 2000 days and then through NXT. And then the last few years, you and I have had different matches multiple times in the last five years. So it just kind of goes into that whole thing of like, where are you at on your, where it comes to a match? Is it the technical prowess? Is it industry defining or is it just like all up in the fields as the kids say? Or they used to say, I don't know what they say now. It's one of those things. But yeah, it's a fantastic pick and you're holding true to your roots about it being an industry changing event. >> All right, let's get to our next category here.

29:09 The top tag team of the last 15 years. At our 10th anniversary special in 2020, both Dr. Tren and I named the new day. Kofi Kingston, Biggie and Xavier Woods is the top tag team in the last 15 years. Which is funny because they had never won and have never won the tag team of the year award every time that we have done it. Which is funny enough because we introduced the 2016 and that we gave it to somebody in 2020 that had never won the award. But how could you go wrong with the new day when it came to that back in 2020? I will start first year Dr. Tren for the 15th anniversary in 2025. There is a change and I think that these guys just like the new day have changed the game for the tag team wrestling in a very, very positive way.

29:55 And it's fun to see now because they've both gone off on their own as single stars and one will be headlining WrestleMania in a World Championship match winning the Royal Rumble recently. And to me that is the Usos, Jimmy and Jay Usos. They were already phenomenal tag team and then they joined the bloodline, which is one of the best storylines we've ever covered in history of this podcast. And then they just ascended into the next level of tag teams or professional wrestling. Dare I say Dr. Tren, I think that they are the greatest tag team in WWE history. I think they are in consideration for the greatest tag team in history. I love the Usos, Jimmy and Jay Usos, major, major impact.

30:36 So there is a change here. So my top tag team in the last 15 years is the Usos, Jimmy and Jay. Well tag team will do that makes sense because they've won your tag team with a year twice more than anybody else. I think just I was like, yeah, they've won it twice on your list. So it's and honestly, I can't argue that they are also my tag team of the last 15 years, not only for what they've done in the ring, what they've done separately, watching Jay become. I think in the taking main event, Jay Usos, which was kind of a corny nickname early on when he kind of broke away to where it's at now makes a ton of sense.

31:18 Jimmy, coming back from his injury, still a solid mid card guy, but he could easily make the move up. Their match last year, WrestleMania was fun. But yeah, when those guys are together, they're one of the greatest, if not the greatest tag team of all time. They're easily probably on my top five all time, just knee jerk reaction, but for the last 15 years, yeah, it's been the Usos. New day is still right there, the young bucks are right there for just the way that all three of those teams have changed the landscape of tag team wrestling. But man, when you got a tag team, the one guy breaks out to become arguably one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling right now. It's kind of hard to take that away from them.

31:58 So the Usos, my tag team of the last 15 years as well. Let's get to our next category here, the top female wrestler of the last 15 years of SRTU. At the 10th anniversary, special back in 2020, both Dr. Trey and I had selected Charlotte Flair to become the top female wrestler of then the last 10 years. Will there be a change now as the top female wrestler of the last 15 years? Dr. Trey, you kick us off here. Who is your top female wrestler of the last 15 years of SRTU? It's really hard because this is kind of like who became the biggest star out of a group or who's at the best run of the last 15 years.

32:45 I've gone back and forth on this one. To me, it's literally flipping a coin. It comes down to two of the horsewomen. It's Becky and Charlotte. I just off long Jeviti and continuance. I'm going to give the nod back to Charlotte. I still think Charlotte has been an industry women's wrestling changing performer. Like there really hadn't been anybody like Charlotte, the blending of the athleticism, the strength, the prowess. I know she still gets flack for being nepotism or whatever. But this was a girl who came in as a volleyball player and has arguably become the greatest female wrestler of all time. So it's really hard for me to take anything away from her.

33:28 So for me, the last 15 years, it's still the queen on top of everybody else. Yeah, like you, Dr. Trey, I was like, could it be Becky? She's certainly in the conversation. I thought Bianca Belair is in the conversation. But for me, the history of this podcast, I mean, Charlotte didn't start wrestling until like two years after SRTU launched. So everything that she's accomplished in her wrestling career, state place during the still real though show history podcast history. And what is she? A 14, 15 time world champion is a phenomenal star. And I know people will say it's only because of her last name, but she is a phenomenal athlete. And not everybody with a famous last name has been successful professional wrestling.

34:09 There's plenty of instances and cases of that. Some may argue with the same last name that she has and those are unfortunately shots fired. But she's one of the greatest of all time. So I like you, Dr. Trey, could not change my selection here because everything that she has done successfully in her wrestling career is taking place during the last 15 years that SRTU has been on the air. So both Dr. Trey and I selecting Charlotte Flair as our top female wrestler of the last 15 years. And now that takes us to our top male wrestler of the last 15 years. Back at the 10th anniversary special in 2020, I had Seth Rollins. Dr. Trey had AJ Styles.

34:50 And here we are five years later handing out the award to the top male wrestler of the last 15 years. And unlike our last award, Dr. Trey, I will say that there has been a change because similar in impacts and game changing ability, there may be no one better. Because similar to Charlotte Flair, this person's career has taken place during the last 15 years that SRTU has been on the airs for starting out in NXT. Then debuting at Survivor Series along with the guy that I originally picked Seth Rollins and then having an up and down career where they were supposed to be the face of the company. The fans rejected them and it wasn't until they turned heel and ran into becoming the tribal chief that everybody finally acknowledged that this person is the top male wrestler of the last 15 years in my opinion.

35:41 And that is the one and only my tribal chief, your tribal chief, Dr. Trey, our tribal chief, the one and only Roman reigns. So I'm selecting Roman reigns as my top male wrestler of the last 15 years. So for in succotash, we actually agree on this one again. So yeah, I'm scrolling through all this stuff and I'm like, man, from a guy that had a really weird NXT run, then coming on the main roster and was just the quiet badass to then everybody giving him flack for years about how bad his promos were. To John Cena cutting one of the greatest promos ever on him in the ring, basically laying out why he can't be the top guy because he couldn't talk to now arguably one of the best talkers in professional wrestling, one of the best in ring workers in professional wrestling and has just dominated pro wrestling for the last four years.

36:38 That was, he was already a multiple time world champion before he just ascended to this next level. I mean, I know that we talk about, you know, God mode and those things like that. The guy's on a different level when he enters an arena. It's a different feeling. Nobody else in my lifetime since Hogan and Flair has changed the way that arena feels like Roman reigns has. So Austin, I got put Austin in there too, Austin Rock, Flair Hogan, and now it's Roman. I think he says, they may call Cena the goat. Cena is a different vibe, Roman's in the ring, it's special. It feels different than when John was out there. So for me, the last 15 years, yeah, nobody's had a bigger impact in this run than Roman reigns.

37:22 All right, now let's get to our top wrestling promotion of the last 15 years. Our 10th anniversary special, both Dr. Treyi and named WWE NXT as the top wrestling promotion of the last 10 years of SRTU. We will see now if there's been a change when it comes to the 15th anniversary. Dr. Trey, you kick us off here and kick things off with the selection and award winner for your top wrestling promotion of the last 15 years. Yeah, for me, coming into this, if you had told me five years ago that our pick would not be the winner, I would have said you're out of your mind, but there's a lot of changes.

38:02 And there's a lot of things that happened between 2019 and 2024, and our pick in 2019 kind of bottomed out for a little while. They made them look like a save by the bell clon with their flashy weird colors and giving them a 2.0 gimmick and NXT unfortunately for me fell down by the wayside. So I look at numbers and look, Monday night Raw, if we're doing it that way, I'm just basically breaking up WWE into three separate promotions. It's still the flag bearer. It was what you what launched us as wrestling fans back in the 90s. It's what kept us around throughout the 2000s.

38:42 And the last three years as the regime change has still been the best show to watch in the moves and Netflix has made it even better. So for me, my top wrestling promotion last 15 years is WWE Monday Night Raw. Yeah, I like you, Dr. Trey, it's amazing because we used to crap all over Raw, they're three hours, they're long, they're boring, it felt like it was out of place. But in our top wrestling promotion of the last three years of doing the award show in 2022, 23 in 2024 was WWE Raw and it remains that way. So I am also selecting WWE Raw as my top wrestling promotion of the last 15 years.

39:23 It's the best show on TV right now, Bar None from professional wrestling standpoint. There are people that are certainly making a case of getting back in, I think NXT is back up on the upswing. Dynamite has been a very solid show over the years, even though they've fallen back over the last year and a year and a half. In SmackDown's always been very solid, but Raw is a show that I could sit down and watch any Monday night lately the last three years and just be highly entertained and enjoy everything that is going on in the world of professional wrestling. So there you go, both Dr. Trey and I selecting WWE Raw as our top wrestling promotion of the last 15 years. And now that it takes us to the biggest award to hand out Dr. Trey, the top SRT U wrestler of the last 15 years.

40:09 Back at our 10th anniversary special in 2020, I named Seth Rollins as my selection. You named Kevin Owens as the top SRT U wrestler of the last 10 years. And here we are now with the top SRT U wrestler of the last 15 years. And I am once again going with my travel chief, your travel chief, our travel chief, the one and only Roman Reigns, a historic run as a world champion. The face of the company, I think you hit it on the head when you were talking about him as your top male wrestler of the last 15 years. When he's in the ring, when he's on television, it is just something special. Probably the best story ever told in the history of the Sto Real The Show is the bloodline and he is at the center point of that.

40:49 He has revolutionized his career, he has changed his career around for the better. And he is, I think he's the greatest of all time right now. I mean, he is our goat. So I am going with Roman Reigns as my top SRT U wrestler of the last 15 years. Did you think when we started this show, especially when the shield launched and we went through those 2016 through 2019 years and we're like, man, this is hard to watch. That we would sit here in 2025 and both agree that Roman Reigns is the SRT U wrestler of the last 15 years. I didn't know if he could have, he had the potential, he had everything to ascend to this level.

41:34 But what he's done in professional wrestling the last four years really changed the landscape. Look Jeff, there was a part of that really wanted to pick the bloodline as a group again just because of what all those guys have kind of done individually. But it's all because of Roman. And I can't say, look, I have a kid named after a member of the bloodline. For right now loud, I really wanted to kind of, but it's all because of Roman. Roman has helped elevate so many people around him into different levels. I mean, what, what, what, what, so low succote was our breakout star of the year. Sammy Zane's headlined in WrestleMania. Jay, who's about to headline in WrestleMania? It was all because of the rub they all got from Roman Reigns. So for me, last 15 years is, it's got to be Roman Reigns.

42:20 So there you go. There is our 15th anniversary award show special. Feel free to chime in at SRTU podcast on xorfacebook.com/stereohtoshow. We'd love to hear what everybody is thought about our selections and then who they would pick as their award winners for last 15 years here on the Stowe Realty Show. Dr. Troy switching gears here. Let's get to our WrestleMania 41 card roundup. We did not get a chance to talk about this on last week's show. There is one new and confirmed match that is Tiffany Stratton defending the WWE Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 41 as Charlotte has made her selection.

43:00 They now joined Gunther versus J.U. So for the World of Women Championship as the only two confirmed matches on the card so far. This isn't a surprise to me. I mean, we talked about this a couple weeks ago. This felt like this was going to be the path once they put the title on Tiffany Stratton. And I'm down with it because I like that they're leading into Charlotte being the heel. Tiffany being the baby face. She'll be in a big match, a big baby face match, this Saturday and Roger Center as well that will approve you in just a moment. But I like the decision here of doing Tiffany Stratton versus Charlotte Flair. My only concern is like we've seen in the past when Charlotte is facing a young up in Cumber at WrestleMania. I would prefer to see the young up in Cumber get the victory and not take the L at least the first go around at WrestleMania.

43:46 Yeah, I mean, I agree with you on that point. Like there's a part of me that just goes, yeah, like Charlotte made bully her way into getting a win. But right now if you're trying to build for the next generation, I mean, Charlotte's coming up a torn ACL. We don't know how much gas Charlotte has left the tank as far as is she going to be here five years from now. We know Tiffany is. This could be a feather in the cap for Tiffany much like it was for Rhea, you know, a couple years ago as well. So I'm cool with it. I like the addition of Trish and all this because it is kind of this like beautiful blonde hair champion lineage of that kind of have going on from Trish to Charlotte to Tiffany Trish and Charlotte had that great match at Summer Slam in Toronto a few years back.

44:35 So I kind of dig the vibe they're doing. They're going with there. So I'm fine with the match. I think it'll be decent. It's just going to be weird because sometimes if somebody's not on Charlotte's level, it makes them look bad in the ring. And I hope that doesn't happen with Tiffany Tiffany's come a long way. But it turns on the shot. The only thing I'm worried about is the reaction she's going to get in Toronto coming up Saturday because it's a Trish hometown match. Well, the Toronto fans sway the other fans to maybe not cheer on as much as Charlotte if she's kind of presented as a heel in the in the limits chamber match with Trish going up Saturday.

45:17 Yeah, it's going to be interesting. So, you know, it's, I think it's the right call. Tiffany and Charlotte going at it and the bill for this will be intriguing because I think that there could be like Tiffany is is where Charlotte was 10 years ago. And now Charlotte where she's at and that's where Tiffany wants to go. So I think that could be a potential bill. So two confirm matches on the card. That is the new one by a week from now. We will have two more matches. So without giving away our predictions here, Dr. I don't want to go down the WWE Championship match or the Women's World Championship match right now for WrestleMania 41. But some things that are potential the rumored matches right now and it is so all over the place, which is a good thing for WrestleMania. What's that Dr. Dre?

46:02 I'll say yeah, because as we're sitting here right now, I don't know who I'm picking for the limits chamber, the limits chamber matches. Yeah, I don't either. I mean, it's, it's a tough call. Yeah. We've got, I've got down some rumored matches right now. Maybe they're going the direction of solo, so go versus Jacob fought to. I also have down maybe Logan Paul versus CM Punk. Rey Mysterio and Big E versus the new day, Braun Breaker defend the Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles. And Chinskay Nakamura defending the United States Championship against LA Knight. Do any of those matches that I just named Dr. Dre feel like a potential wrestler any 41 match to you? I mean, Night and Nakamura makes sense. Like, I, you know, that was something we've talked about in the past by LA Knight getting a big, you know, WrestleMania win for a title.

46:49 And it didn't quite happen in the past, so it makes sense that they're going to go around. Although I do love the new Chinskay evil samurai gimmick. It's, it's really cool. I don't know if we're, I, if you do Breaker and AJ, I figure, I feel like Finn gets involved in that and that might become a triple threat match or some kind of Intercontinental ladder match type thing. I just don't know if we're going to AJ and Braun one one because that is, because then what do you do to Finn Balor? Like, or do you break up the judgment day at WrestleMania and you get it thin and dumb, you know, the Ray and Big E match with New Day, that would be awesome.

47:31 That might be up there with that whole like with an edge return Daniel Bryan return like seeing Big E get back in the ranks and get everybody off their field so they go that route. That's great. I don't know if I'm on board with Jacob versus solo like I, in this might, this might not get away man. I really hate baby face, baby face, he'll, he'll matches at WrestleMania because it's designed for your casual fans unless Jacob, I think Jacob plays out. I think Jacob's face right now, bud. Yeah, but he's got a reaction now. Yeah, I mean, unless Toma and solo and Tonga low turn on Jacob, you know, and that's how it goes. I still think Jacob with Toma and Thomas kind of a baby face too like the whole yee yee yee, I think the crowd he set up.

48:19 So it's weird this dynamic. So I think you're going to have to make one go one way and one go the other and you can't have them both be kind of heels at this point. You're going to need make a decision on which one you're going to row is a as a good upper mid card baby face by WrestleMania. And I didn't see this one coming with solo and Jacob thought to but it has really picked up on Smackdown because I think WWE is leaning into the crowd reactions that FATSU is getting. He is starting to come off more as a baby face, which I'm not a big fan of because I thought heel Jake of FATSU would be a monster in 2025. But they had obviously the moment where solo accidentally hit Toma Tonga two weeks ago, FATSU super kick solo by accident, but stairs Adam with like an FU attitude.

49:10 So there is something brewing there and I think the reports I read recently was that what they're doing isn't leading to WrestleMania which to me it's like then what is it leading to because this is this feels like it's getting. It's it's amplifying very very fast unless they randomly get on the same page all of a sudden. So that out of all the rumored matches I name that one seemed like the most likely to be added to the WrestleMania card right now but it's what's crazy about all these rumored matches is it's just like I have no idea after the two confirm matches where things are going right now with the card. Yeah it's it's real I mean we're only what 45 days out roughly it's all over the place like I'm looking at the car going well we know the two matches everything else kind of still feels up in the year which.

50:00 And any other year prior to 2022 I would be really really nervous about WrestleMania like I would be like really concerned that it was going to be just kind of knee jerk but I'm kind of leaning into the faith in triple H that there is a longer term story plan laid out to get us to WrestleMania have us all hyped up for because. Right now like you're looking the car you're like okay I don't know what this guy is doing I don't know what this guy is doing I know what this guy is doing and usually we have a decent idea by now I'm hoping that lima chamber kind of solves a lot of those questions for us. Speaking of elimination chamber let's get into it a lima chamber preview and predictions this Saturday from the Roger Center in Toronto Ontario can't let's get to the first match here Dr. Trace Sami Zayn versus Kevin Owens in a un sanctioned match.

50:48 I have no idea where this is one is going which is going to be like the theme of the show outside the strat and Trace strat is match quite honestly I'm going to go with Sami Zayn because I think Randy Orton gets involved as there's a lot of reports out there that he is is return is imminent and they want to be involved in the WrestleMania build so I can foresee him going after the guy that took him out now would be Kevin Owens so I'm going to go with Sami Zayn in this one. I'm picking on heart on this one Kevin Owens needs a win. Sami is a good guy the crowd always loves Sami. K.O. hasn't won a big match in a long time not since WrestleMania 39 really like I mean he's challenged Cody for the World title multiple times to no success like he needs a win and this is right up this aint it is or right up the van at this new like not giving a crap KO on a revenge.

51:43 It's a little like the Kevin Owens revenge. I'm going to take KO just because and then save Randy Orton for SmackDown return. Okay there you go so I got Sami Zayn Dr. good KO I could see either one of those playing out honestly next match here is Tiffany Stratton and Trace strat is taking on Nia Jackson can slow right Dr. Drey who do you like this one. It's in Toronto it's Trace returning I mean as much fun as Nia in in Candace or I got for some reason I didn't think I'd like this pair I really enjoy them together but it's in Toronto you're building to WrestleMania you're getting Tiffany the Trace Rob I'm going to take Trace and Tiffany getting the win.

52:25 Yeah I'm really happy for Candace the way to get in the spot because I think she's extremely talented but like you Dr. Trace Trace back in the hometown Rochester in Toronto Ontario Candace 25 years of Trace strat is this is a Trace strat is Tiffany Stratton victory so both was taking Tiffany Stratton and Trace strat is and then that takes us to our next match here Dr. Trace the elimination chamber match for a women's world championship match at WrestleMania 41 we've got Liv Morgan Bianca Belair Alexa Bliss Bailey Naomi and Roxanne Perez I don't have a clue. Where is this match going I got to be honest with you because here's the thing Naomi and Bianca Belair dropped the women's tag team championship to live in Raquel on Mondays Raw. Reports out there that Jade Cargill has been cleared and the reveal of who took her out is is going to be wrapping up here soon.

53:12 It would lead you to believe that either Bianca Belair and or Naomi are behind the attack that would make sense the live in Raquel thing even though they really haven't said they had nothing to do with it. Haven't just that does it seem plausible as something that would continue forward. So I have a theory out there that Bianca Belair and Naomi get taken out before the match and they need replacements and the replacement that enters the match is one Becky Lynch. Now the fact that Becky Lynch has not been on WWE television even though she's reportedly returned to the company signed with the company has been featured in Raw Netflix builds and there were rumors that she would be at the rod on Netflix day view to start building towards WrestleMania and did not even appear did not appear with the Royal Rumble has been like completely confused as to what's going on.

54:03 Either something has completely changed in hers and Seth Rall's personal life. Wink wink nudge nudge or they're waiting for a moment like this where she could return and then it's building towards her versus rear Ripley. She feels it for Bianca she feels in with Naomi which is a very old school vansick man creative storyline approach to it that I don't think that they're actually got to do. So with all that said to work through all of this I'm going to go with Bianca Belair because they Bianca Belair versus rear Ripley is a WrestleMania match so I'm going to go with Bianca Belair as my pick for the women's elimination chamber match. So I looked at this and much like you like I was trying to figure out which way we're going with this like I don't think it's going to be live because we've seen live in area I don't I kind of want to pick Roxanne but I don't think Roxanne is ready for a WrestleMania stage you may not have a main event level match so then I'm like I'm looking I'm going okay it came down to Bianca and Naomi for me and my thought process was similar that one of those two took out Jade and then Jade will be coming back for revenge on them so.

55:14 Bianca and Rhea is the money match out of these people in the match so I'm taking Bianca as well I think we might get Becky and Bailey at WrestleMania at some point as much as I want to see Becky and Rhea go at we we have kind of seen a little bit in the past we really haven't seen a good Becky Bailey rivalry since the pandemic era so I'm that's where I'm going with it so I'm going to take Bianca and then it's reveal that Naomi took. I know that Naomi took out Jade because I don't think if Bianca took out Jade you can put a spot but I think he'll come out that Bianca was the one who pushed Naomi to take out Jay which makes Bianca heal heading into our match with Rhea.

55:58 Yeah there's something going on there and that is what adds to a whole nother layer of like confusion is starting in a very good way as a WrestleMania Wrestling fan because everything should not be predictable so both Dr. Trin and I go into Bianca by layer to win the women's elimination chamber match and then it takes us to the moment. And then it takes us to the men's elimination chamber match for the undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 41 we've got John Cena, CM Punk, Drew McAter, Logan Paul, Damien Priest and one Seth Freakin-Rons. Dr. Trin, what say you? Who do you like in this one? This is really really hard to call for me because every sign points to the match that I don't want so I'm looking at going okay well I think Seth's an end of other row in base on the attack and either punk ends up involved in that match or punk is the same.

56:41 And then the next match or punk ends up in Logan Paul. Damien Priest and Drew McAter think we'll end up together which leaves John Cena. So by process of elimination I'm taking John Cena. The caveat being that the rocks involvement in this angle might make this match interesting to me because right now I don't need white meat babyface versus white meat babyface at WrestleMania because I hate those matches. Which means one of them has to have some kind of dark ulterior motive heading into that match up and rock might be that one because rock has history with Cena and there is nobody more corporate than John Cena when it comes to WWE.

57:26 I will not say John Cena's hands he'll because we're not allowed to do that on the show but maybe the rock gives the edge to Cena to take down Cody so I will take John Cena. And then James James even though he didn't qualify he just announced his way into it. >> So when this whole rock Cody Rhodes storyline took place on last Friday's edition of SmackDown I was thinking like okay I think they maybe have made a change that it may be going in a different direction here because I thought it was going to be seen versus Cody entire time and I was like who would be a guy that could be the rocks champion and sell his soul. Well we all love Drew McIntyre from last year was your wrestler of the year Dr. Trey and I could see him filling that role as getting a prominent spot at WrestleMania I think a Drew versus Cody Rhodes match makes a lot of sense for me at WrestleMania.

58:18 And then I came to my senses and my senses said it is the last WrestleMania for one John Cena and John Cena is not going to be in no non-Markey match. So I like you Dr. Trey I'm taking John Cena to win the men's elimination chamber match and receive the undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 41 and I agree with you I think the inclusion of the rock into this entire thing makes things very interesting because we will see on Saturday what Cody Rhodes is going to do and how does the winner of the men's elimination match playing to all of that. So I am going to go with John Cena as well and that sets up John Cena versus Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 which for all tent and purposes folks is a dream match and that should be a lot of fun.

59:03 Can I ask you a question before you wrap everything up? Sure yeah. If you switched John Cena and Jay Uso at WrestleMania and you kept everything the same you kept the rock Cody but Jay's challenging Cody the rock has family ties to Jay and then you have Cena and Gunther does that make it seem a little more interesting than kind of the route they're going right now or you good with this route if that's where they go. I'm good with this route. I wouldn't like the Jay versus Cody thing because if I know you just had like white me baby face versus white me baby face Jay doesn't need the rock involved in his stuff right now.

59:44 Yeah. I was just thinking that if Jay actually beat Cody like that's my question is if Cody loses and goes as in the rocks like see you could have been my champion. If you listen to me I can give you all your dreams and Cody goes dark like you know it's just it's a weird mashup because it just doesn't Cody feels fake sometimes we know the rock can be really fake sometimes. Cena is real fake sometimes. Yeah it's just it's it's going to be really interesting if this is the dynamic they go and help maybe Cody turns down the rock and rock inserts himself into the match we get rock Cody and Cena in a triple threat. Yeah it's going to be very very interesting and intriguing where things go and that's a great thing because it has me excited for the Saturday's elimination chamber PLA which we will all recap and review for you on next week's edition of SRT and we should at that point have at least four official confirm matches now all the title matches and I will be looking towards where everything is going for rest of any 41 as we move forward so stay tuned on next week's edition of SRT the very first show of March 2025.

1:00:51 With that said let's get a couple plugs and sponsors are the way you can download show every Thursday or Friday real guy radio.com Russell Chatonnet on X and the still real the show iTunes feed don't forget to rate review and subscribe tell us how it's on iTunes you can follow us individually on X for myself at SRT you Jeff ever Dr. Dr. Franklin at the Dr. Tray and of course don't forget to follow the show on X at SRT podcast with that being said what is going on in the wonderful world of Dr. Franklin this week. Well like Jeff said you can follow me on X at the Dr. Tray you can find me on Instagram and Facebook Dr. Tray Franklin when you're on Facebook check out Rockets a championship wrestling we got a big show coming up this Saturday as we are on the road to wrestling con coming up in May from the beautiful Hazel Green Alabama population of like I think 4,000 people.

1:01:36 I also check out Spartan Championship Wrestling the other show I work with in Alabama but most importantly get out there go find your local independent show go find your local independent wrestler that would be willing to sell his soul for much less than Jeff or I would maybe just a hot dog and a hand shake or something. So there you go support all the great things that support SRT you don't forget again to rate review subscribe wherever you get this podcast spread the word about the still real though show. And join us next week is we recap review WWE elimination chamber so until next week thank you for downloading thank you for being part of the podcast thank you for supporting SRT you for Dr. Franklin I am Jeff Pack this has been the still real show.