John Cena Wants to Ruin Wrestling | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #789 – 03/27/25

0:00 It's still real to me, damn it! What up, eee-oh! Ooh, welcome everybody! Welcome to this week's edition of the SoRealDest show, Episodes 789 for March 27, 2025. Welcome to this week's edition of S-R-T-U. I am one after the show, I am Jeff Packie, joined every single week from my coast, the one on the Dr. Dre Franklin. Dr. Dre, are you here to ruin rest, same my friend?

0:41 I was gonna say something about that, but apparently from what I've been told, I've already done that by people who listen to this show. I already had people, I had something this week, tell me that basically I don't know anything about wrestling and I should just give up and quit. So apparently I have ruined wrestling for some people. Is anyone reacting to your thoughts on this podcast? Yes, actually, I don't want to have the full conversation yet, but because I don't watch AEW content from beginning to end, therefore I cannot talk about it.

1:23 Was this like in a DM? Was this on Facebook? I actually want one of my friends sent me a message on Facebook, basically saying that since I don't watch stuff from beginning to end and that I shouldn't comment on it at all. And they were listening to this podcast? I haven't talked to him offline in months and so apparently that was where it all came from. Interesting, so that's a normal course of conversation on the internet. Yeah, so yeah, but so apparently me and John Cena, we're just going to ruin wrestling for everybody. I'm down for it. I'm good to go with ruining wrestling for people now. See, I didn't know it was in relation to watching AEW.

2:03 I thought maybe you had created a title in Rocket City Championship Wrestling that was going to be used more for a toy as a toy than anything else. I don't know if you were doing any spin or spin. Can I create the ruin wrestling championship? I think you may have an action, this will probably be some sort of independent wrestling promotion at some point. Oh, now there's there's minus top for whatever I branch out and actually start my own promotion on my own. It's going to be ruin, ruin wrestling for everyone wrestling. Now is it ruin ruin, ruin championship wrestling? Is it RCW? Is it ruin wrestling council like RWC? Ruin wrestling alliance. Okay, RWI. Yeah, so that way I can group people into it because it's an alliance and that's what they do.

2:46 The ruin wrestling council sounds fun too, that sounds official. Yeah, RWC, I don't think, I feel like we don't have a lot of C's at the end of wrestling promotions anymore. The only time we see that is when they talk about the IWC, the internet wrestling community speaking. I think Carlos Cologne, I mean the one down there in Puerto Rico was the WWC of I believe, was it it? I believe it was the WC or WC. Yeah, a world wrestling council. Yeah, so, and that was one of the most hardcore promotions there was. So if we go that route, I'm good with it. I'll, I'll take a page from the Cologne's there, they're back on the mainland now wrestling. So we're, we're going with that there. We got Cologne's in TNA and Cologne and WWE.

3:27 There's just not a Cologne in AEW, so I guess it doesn't count. Or as Miss and Mora would say the Cologne's so. Cologne's. Yes. Welcome back. Welcome back. So another week, another week of build towards the WrestleMania 41 car, Dr. Trey. We have two matches that are now part of the WrestleMania car looking at the new and confirmed matches. The first being and they both were official following SmackDown. The first match was Kevin Owens taking on Randy Orton. That is now confirmed for WrestleMania 41. As KO tried to apologize and reconcile with Randy Orton on SmackDown. Randy Orton declines and makes a wrestle and you know challenges, challenges him to a match at WrestleMania 41. That match becomes official during the show and I'm still wondering if and how Samy Zayn makes his present felt in this one.

4:13 So as it stands right now, Dr. Trey. And I always have to say this when it comes to WrestleMania matches, we will be getting Kevin Owens versus Randy Orton in WrestleMania. It is a first official, it is confirmed. And when you look at the resume of WrestleMania matches that Kevin Owens has had in his life, he may have the best opponent resume in the history of WrestleMania now. Yeah, the only one he's missing I guess it'd be either seeing it or takers. I don't think he's wrestled either one of those guys that many but if you can throw Randy Orton, Stone Cold, Usos, Daniel Bryan, Shane McMahon, I mean he's like, there's a really diverse list on there as well. Jericho. Jericho, I mean- Seth Rollins.

4:55 Yeah, I mean the guys basically wrestled the who's who. I mean like I said, he's kind of just missing, you know, Rock, Cena and Takeer and I guess a match with Roman. So out of the four guys, he's had just about everybody else worth their stones because he's wrestled across generations at WrestleMania. He never got Vince but he got Shane at least. So I guess that's where we go with it. Then the other match that is now new and confirmed for WrestleMania 41, Dr. Dre and you have been vocal about this one my friend. It is official Roman Reigns versus Seth Freakin Rollins versus CM Punk in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 41.

5:37 The match becomes official after a very fun segment and bra'll closes out Smackdown, pumpkin outs is on a contract signing for this Friday Smackdown. This is not how I envision all three of these men being used for WrestleMania 41. I would have figured Punk versus Rollins or Punk versus Reigns as a minimum but here we are. We get Reigns, Rollins and Punk and there's some rumblings right now that this may headline one of the nights at WrestleMania 41. Your thoughts on this match become unofficial. I can almost guarantee you it's headlighting night one. This is the way that you get that the main event WrestleMania monkey off of Seth Rollins, I mean off of a CM Punk's back.

6:17 It still gets Roman Reigns, his main event match for WrestleMania which you want absolutely. Arguably the top star in the company not named Rocker or Cody right now. And Seth has history of both of them and he's arguably right now. He's the workhorse of WWE for the better part of the last 10 years outside of a couple of knee injuries. I mean he's been the go-to guy so this to me is kind of like the best way to kind of put them all together. Most fans love Triple Threat matches because anything can happen. And it also still saves the favor owed to CM Punk from Paul Heyman for Post-Restyl Maynays.

7:00 So you still have that storyline to play out as well afterwards. It checks a lot of the boxes without having to give away all the secrets so to speak. You can still have a little bit of mystery post-Restyl Maynays coming out of this match. See I like you, I do believe that as of right now on March the 27th, this is the match that will headline night one. I would make a strong case especially if J.U.S. was winning over Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship. That match should be the one that closes R.S.M.A.41 but I have a feeling that this entire thing we're already in a favor, Dr. Tray with Paul Heyman. That's what circles this back around where I could see the favor to Paul Heyman is to make this a main event match at R.S.M.A.41.

7:43 However Paul Heyman is able to do that and that is the repaying the favor and this is the match that headlines R.S.M.A.41 night one. Yeah but I mean in real like and this is you know if you're going off K-Fabe we're going in the reality of the pro-Restyl World. Does Paul Heyman have that kind of stroke? Can he go to Nick Alderson go this has to be the main event match? I think he can. We saw that four years of the bloodline storyline. I mean but I don't think he actually demanded. We never saw him actually demand that it's the main event match but once again that could play out in the contract signing on Smackdown this week is that Paul Heyman refuses to sign the contract unless this is the main event match.

8:29 So there's a way for the play-in but for me I think just off name recognition value like look I love J.U. So I think you know how much I love Goonther. Of name recognition though these three guys are bigger stars than Jane Goonther. I totally agree but I mean night one has always been that one since they started doing the two nights where you've had like really good debates as to the so we all know what the match will be that closes WrestleMania on night two. It's typically it's been a reigns lesnar, reigns Cody right. We know that with the exception of last year with the tag team match with that made a ton of sense to carry it over to night two with rock and reigns versus Rawls and Rhodes.

9:12 Any other year I feel like it's been a match where it's what the wrestling fans are demanding to headline WrestleMania like they deserve that honor for night one. And it was K.O. and Sammy versus the O.S. Sasha Banks Mercedes Monet taking on Bianca Belair. It was always like those matches that were leading the charge for night one. And I think Gunther J.U. so could up end a triple threat with those three guys but it wouldn't shock me if those three guys and if the favor of Paul Heyman and all that stuff has to do with the main event match. If you're putting the title on J.U. so I would love to see WrestleMania and especially if night two is set to have let's say John Cena win the title.

9:58 Then let them like you did with WrestleMania 39. Let them go home happy with night one. K.O. and Sammy raising the title up in the air do that with Jay. And then night two reigns retains John Cena wins. He's the heel. I could see that playing out that way also. I think that is the only match the only two matches outside of Rhodes and John Cena that I think could headline one of the nights of WrestleMania right now. And specifically night one is the triple threat match that we're talking right now and Gunther versus J.U. Yeah I think it comes down to once again how they viewed J.U. so and I mean that like if you go online if you go on the internet and you look at the fan people are still kind of you know, shitting on the J.U. so you know in the World title run leading in I mean I will tell you the rumble win heading into Mania.

10:49 The World title isn't as strong as it has been the past which I can argue that but is merchandise sales is above almost everybody else's like I mean in the crowd the general populace loves J.U. So I think it kind of depends on where they view J.U. so as is he a legitimate a you know a plus level star is he a guy that you can build a company around or is he. To quote Stephanie and triple H about Daniel Bryan years ago is he a B plus player so I think that's where it comes down to anything else on the triple threat because I think this now bleeds in the guntha versus J.U. So obviously I think I think we're good on the triple threat I'm excited but I loved.

11:34 Hey did you like punk's line of I work with children or did you think that he did that for the internet wrestling fans yeah yeah because the crowd didn't pop for it all but the marks all a bit up but then also the I brought you guys in I love that line also yeah I like that that's the build that they're going back with with you know 12 13 years ago he was responsible in air quotes for bringing the shield into WWE so I like that and I do like the little brother stuff that he does with Seth Ron so the dynamic of the triple threat is really good and I'm excited for yes getting to counter versus J.U. So J.U. So slips and Gunther catches him as they keep further in the storyline that J.U. So doesn't belong with Gunther on raw this past Monday I felt like that was really smart by creative to make his botch over the top rope the week before part of this storyline that Gunther is in J.

12:27 He's had Gunther is now set to face Jimmy Uso on this Monday's raw Jimmy and J reunited for the first time in like a year and a half two years on raw I don't know why we didn't hype that up and why the mystery partner route because we all felt that was going to be Jimmy and J nonetheless I like the creative here Dr. Trey for covering up the botch from the week before and making it part of the storyline thoughts and takeaways from this week with Gunther and J.U. So so far. He's so passionate about it that he's not thinking like he's not like Gunther is a thinking man's wrestler he'll pick you apart where J.U. So emotional and so driven it's not just that he's in his hands that J.U.

13:17 J.U. So he's got to prove that point and he's over anxious I guess is the way of playing but I thought it's coming off really well like this was a build that I thought would take some time to get fans to totally buy into it and I think they're getting there like it's literally with that rocky Drago stuff where J.U. is such an underdog and he keeps getting caught in these mistakes that he's just over anxious or over passionate about or he's just going off sheer emotion that Gunther is going to be there and then he's going to be there. You've got your own, my share of emotion that Gomther keeps catching them. And you know, well, that help him or hurt him, Aresselmy. I like the dichotomy and the contrast in that storytelling to make fans really just totally buy in to JB in that underdog.

14:00 Let's go to the ladies with Cody Rhodes versus John Cena for the WWE Championship at Recess Manny, 41. Another great opening, seven Antti Raw, where John Cena continues to play mind games with Cody Rhodes and allows to be the last real world champion and bringing the title with him into retirement and ruining wrestling. The only thing that is missing is some sort of explanation on aligning with the rock. He really hasn't addressed that specific alignment, per se. You know, the break up and a toxic relationship with the fans, I get, I would like to see Cena explain the relationship with the rock a little bit more or have the rock come back to explain that relationship from both sides, a little bit of background, so that would be nice.

14:41 They are set to have another face to face in London this Monday. According to some things that I read online, reportedly this is the last potential scheduled television date for John Cena heading into Recess Manny, 41. I can't imagine that's true if so. What do we do from here? Because the last two weeks have been pretty good. Another great opening segment and I like how we got a little bit more deeper into this new John Cena character, Dr. Try. Yeah. And that's one thing you're hoping for. You're hoping for layers. You're hoping for depth. I mean, we got a flare reference out of him as to why he's pushing for 17.

15:22 You know, like I like that we're peeling back in and the other thing is this might, if John goes away and then the rock comes out to kind of cover for a couple of those weeks while Cena's away, that'll work well, too. I, because we don't remember. And we got, you know, rock him out that first time and we saw him hold up the three fingers. We do this throat slit, you know, and and a limitation chamber. He holds up two fingers. That means he's still got one more trick up his sleeve here. So we still haven't figured out what that one is. So there's, there's depths and layers to it. Also I know like Cody also dressed down a little bit more. You know, he had the shirt open, no jacket.

16:03 He was just, you know, like a little more getting more to the people, I guess. Like it's weird when you have such a well dressed baby face and a heel who's dressed like the people in the crowd to kind of get that, you know, vibe from the people that go like, "That's my guy." Because people usually go with, "That's my guy." If they remind them of them, I don't know we have that yet because people like Cena still dresses like, you know, the kid in the crowd that he may fund up two weeks ago. We dress is still like your boss that's probably going to fire you at some point. It's a weird contrast to kind of work off of, but the more we get Cena laying in these deeper meanings and layers as to why he's doing what he's doing, the more people will get bought into it.

16:46 Tiffany Stratton versus Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women's Championship. We had a good back and forth interview segment on SmackDown. Charlotte was punky Tiffany for a good portion of, until Stratton held her own towards the end. This has been a nice build so far, Dr. Trey. Thoughts or takeaways here from Stratton versus Flair so far? Yeah, I still feel like Charlotte controlled that back and forth. She kind of bullied her way through that, but, you know, Tiffany at the end standing up for herself was good because it's, once again, this is kind of the same thing we're talking about with, you know, with Cody being so well dressed. It's really hard to root for somebody that you have nothing in common with. And like Tiffany and Charlotte are basically like just mirror images of each other, so it's kind of hard to go, you know, we like Tiffany, we don't like Charlotte, but we don't like her because of this reason, this reason, they're kind of the same character in a lot of ways, just one's been around for 15 years and the other one hasn't.

17:38 So Tiffany's got to get a little bit more depth in her character to really get people to buy in because it wasn't that long ago. She was a heel who cashed in a mind of the bank kind of cheapishly behind her opponents back to win a title, which is not typically how you want baby faces winning. So we need to say a little bit more grit to steal from Adam Copeland heading into us on May from Tiffany. I could not agree more. That's what I felt was the kind of takeaway there where it just felt like Charlotte was pulling away in regards to a build towards a WrestleMania match for verbally that she was a, you know, stronger opponent, more seasoned veteran than Tiffany Stratton.

18:19 Tiffany looked to be off and trying to keep up for the most part of that segment, which I don't know if that's being done purposely or if that is legitimately how each character is in these types of moments. To your point, Dr. Trab, I would love to see a segment on Friday, SmackDown where we see a little bit more violence and toughness out of Tiffany Stratton. And those are things that you see from time to time. I always go back to Randy Orton versus Mick Foley. Orton was kind of just floundering a little bit in the upper mid card, mid card reign. And we all felt that he could break through as a top star. He had that hardcore match with Mick Foley and Mick Foley elevated his game to the level that you see today. And maybe that's the type of stuff that you could see with the Tiffany Stratton, Charlotte feud heading into WrestleMania.

19:04 So I had very similar thoughts as you did. Moving on to the other women's match for the Women's World Championship, EO Sky versus Bianca Belair. EO is set to defend versus Rio this Monday in their title rematch with Bianca as the special guest referee. Banner will take on Bianca at WrestleMania 41. And as I watch this segment play out, Dr. Trey, I was thinking to myself, everybody's going to triple threat, triple threat, triple threat. And I'm like, could there be a scenario where let's say on night one, it's EO versus Rhea, EO versus Bianca. And the Winter Face is Bianca or Rhea on night two. Or are we headed to the triple threat eventually? I feel like we're headed towards triple threat, but I wouldn't mind seeing maybe like a two night storyline here with these three women.

19:50 >> Yeah, I just also, there's part of me that goes, okay, if you do that, do you have, do you have EO pull the Jericho and B, Rhea, and I don't know why that works for me is if you have EO beat Rhea and then EO has to beat Bianca. Otherwise, you're just kind of feeding one person like, well, it's really beat me because I had a wrestle twice. So there's kind of like, I like it if you go to the old school Jericho, unified, championship or out. Otherwise, just make it a triple threat match and make it easy, but I fully expect Bianca to get involved in this match. And then Pierce comes out the following week and be like, look, you got involved, obviously you're involved.

20:33 We'll just make this a triple threat match. So I guess Rhea signature does make it valid. So we do have six matches now confirmed for WrestleMania 41. We just went through each one of the six matches that is confirmed. We'll get to the rumored stuff now, Dr. Trey, and we'll see how the rest of this card is laying out. I expect this next match here to be announced as early as this Friday Smackdown. I made a case that I could see it being announced on last Friday Smackdown, but clearly they wanted to only save that for the spotlight of Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and the triple threat match with Reigns, Rollins and Punk. Drew McIntyre versus Damian Priest drew continues to lay out Damian Priest. And this looks to be very official soon.

21:14 I would be surprised if you and I are not sitting here next week talking about this match in the new and confirmed section, Dr. Trey. >> Yeah, if it's not booked soon, I mean it will be, I mean that's where all the signs are going. And you got to have these two guys on your car. I mean these two guys basically were World Champions at your last WrestleMania. So you got to get them featured somewhere, so it does make a lot of sense. So, if they're trying to save some announcements, I mean, it honestly look, you and I are going to love this match, but on the pecking order of what's been announced so far, this is somewhere in the middle. So yeah, it's got to get kind of done soon, at least to keep building that interest for Mania. >> Another match that I see is rumored right now.

21:57 I think we're starting to get a bunch of different equations laying out. So there's several of them in it started over the last couple of weeks of, could we be seeing Solosico versus Jacob Fattu? I'm starting to think that is a less likely scenario. Another one that is starting to play into this solo Jacob stuff is obviously the United States Championship at LA Night in Braun Strowman. So I think there's some scenarios here where you could see LA Night versus Jacob Fattu for the United States Championship. Or LA Night versus Jacob Fattu versus Braun Strowman versus Solosico in a fatal four-way match for the US title. I could also see a scenario and I think this is distance right now based on the current storyline for this upcoming, this past Monday and what we're seeing on Monday's RAW as well.

22:42 But I could see Solos, Jacob Fattu and Tomatanga take it on LA Night, Braun Strowman and let's say Jimmy Uso in a three-way or a trio match. There's something here, Dr. Trey. I can't put my finger on it quite yet. It's not as clear as let's say the Intercontinental Championship picture. But I think Solo and Jacob Fattu storyline has to do with the US title at WrestleMania 41. Your thoughts on some of the brainstorming here of where those folks are heading towards when it comes to Las Vegas? I mean, initially I thought of that and just having like a six-man tag but then we've had Jimmy talking about he's got to get on the card and the stuff was Solo and Jacob. You know what we haven't had recently is the big ladder match for the US title or Intercontinental title.

23:30 And you got Sammy and K.O. stuff. We've had some great IC ladder matches at WrestleMania in the past. We got Zach Ryder winning one years ago. Why don't we just put all the, you know, hang the belt above the ring and do a six-man ladder match. And then you could have it to where basically Jacob's climbing the ladder. Solo pulls him off so Solo could win the US title and then that creates board of the stage between Solo and Jacob as well. Solo and Toma did cost Jacob a two shot at the United States Championship when they interfered in his number one contender's match against Braun Strowman. Strowman is now facing LA night this Friday on SmackDown for the US title.

24:11 It definitely seems like I said before something has been brewing with all these guys being involved in the US title picture heading into WrestleMania 41. So we'll see which direction this is heading right now but we definitely feel that this is involving the US title. I mentioned the IC title while describing the US championship. I think this picture is becoming a lot clearer now, Dr. Trey. It is feeling like Braun Breaker is going to be defending the Intercontinental Championship against Finn Balor, Dominic Mysterio and Penta. You know, especially after how Raw ended this past week with Dom trying to get Penta to join the Judgment Day. Interferring in Penta's title match and Penta denying the Judgment Day offer only to be laid out by Finn Balor. It is looking like a fatal four-way is very likely for WrestleMania 41 for the IC title, Dr. Trey.

24:53 And how, I mean, it's funny in a way because was it like just three years ago, four years ago, I absolutely hated Domic Mysterio on the show. Did not want to see him do anything. He has completely won me over. How awesome is going to be if Dom wins the Intercontinental title and you know, that creates the final dissension in the Judgment Day to cause a disc blancer. But yeah, I mean, to me, on paper, that makes the most sense. We've seen everybody have their own issues with each other in that because now Penta is tight in with the Judgment Day, bronze tight in, and then we've seen the dissent between, you know, Finn and Dom. So yeah, it makes a ton of sense to go ahead and put this one down for WrestleMania as well. Speaking of that WrestleMania match that Dr. Trey did not like, it was Domic Mysterio and Roman Mysterio taking on the Miz and Logan Paul.

25:38 Speaking of Logan Paul, it still feels like AJ Styles versus Logan Paul is the direction for WrestleMania 41. Logan has been off the last couple of weeks. And Logan Paul is planning on calling out AJ style on this Monday's Raw in London. I think based on that, Dr. Trey and maybe the limited schedule Logan has heading in the WrestleMania 41, this could potentially be a likely move to the new and confirmed category on next week's podcast as well. Yeah, Logan's got a very limited schedule. AJ's got open availability. So I wonder if we'll do Logan then Logan just sends out guys for a few weeks heading into WrestleMania to take AJ down, whether it's Wall or Theory, somebody of that ilk to kind of keep messing with AJ heading into Mania.

26:21 But yeah, this is one of those matches. No thing is, if we talk about KO's resume, AJ's resume is fantastic in a sense of the matches he's put on with people that may be not on his level to kind of elevate their stuff in the ring. This might fit in that category as well because he's had great matches with, I mean, he had the great match with Shinsuke, the match with Shane was actually pretty good. The Boneyard match with Takeer. I mean, AJ and Logan, like on paper, you think this might be okay, but it'll probably end up stealing the show. Next here is the WWE tag team championship. I still feel like it's the Street Profits defending against Motor City Machine Guns, DIY, pretty deadly and low scars.

27:04 The Street Profits did defeat low scars in a non-title match and now we await a match with a number of contenders in pretty deadly, in pretty deadly this Friday on SmackDown in London. So pretty deadly versus the Street Profits in a title match. Nothing else really took place on this week's SmackDown that really advanced where I think the tag titles at Frescimany41 are going at this point, unfortunately, but I'm still resting my hat on in the Fatal 5-Way match, Dr. Tray. And I could see this being a ladder match as well. Yeah, I mean, they might do one on night one and one on night two. I mean, we're getting kind of mirror cards and we talked about it over the last couple years as well, where it's like sometimes the raw card and the SmackDown card might not be exact, but they do have kind of mirror personalities.

27:47 And so this might be one of them. Because you know, look, Champa and Gargano are triple H guys, they're not getting left off WrestleMania. So they're going to be on the show somewhere, it's just a question of like, do you feel like the guards are still fit into the equation with their loss? And with pretty deadly going as a street profits in London, is there a chance pretty deadly walks out of London with the tag belts, which then leads into everybody being involved in the match or WrestleMania as well? Next one here is Jade Cardgill versus Naomi. Naomi helps lift Morgan if he'd Jade Cardgill and what I believe was her first singles loss as this continues to progress forward. First singles loss in WWE.

28:28 Sidebar, Live deserves a higher role in the WrestleMania41 card based on everything she has done over the last six to nine months. Nonetheless, Dr. Tray, the direction certainly still seems to be Jade Cardgill versus Naomi. >> Yeah, now excuse me. I don't know if this will end up actually on the Mania card or on the SmackDown before Mania. That's my only question. I don't know if this is going to be, I mean, I know they love Jade Cardgill and they love Naomi, but when you're booking this show out and we know triple H doesn't like to have a ton of matches on pay-per-views if you go, hey, we're looking at maybe 12 matches top. Does this make the top 12? So this might be main event of SmackDown before WrestleMania.

29:10 But I do think it's going to happen. In your opinion, right, like, Live needs a better spot. I keep hoping they bring Nikki back with Alexa to give them a really solid women's tag match with Liv and Raquel Bafriya for media. >> Speaking of Liv Morgan, so I have down now based on what I saw on Monday, is Raw Doctor Try. I could see Liv Morgan or Raquel Rodriguez defending the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against Lara Valkyrie and Bayley. Is that something we think that could be taking place on WrestleMania 41? >> I think that's an option. And I know they don't want to bring back the Y at six until, you know, Bow Dallas, your Uncle Howdy is fully healthy, which might be throwing off the stuff with Alexa and Nikki.

29:56 If they do Lyra and Bayley, I guess I'm fine with that, but that just to me seems like kind of a let down versus Alexa and Nikki who are, you know, two time former women's tag team champions. But I guess you're right, Bayley needs to be on the card too, it's WrestleMania. So it would kind of give a rub to Lyra as well. But yeah, that just for Liv Morgan to be in a tag match with two people who never have tagged up before, to now be featured in the women's tag match does feel like a let down. >> Ray Mysterio versus Chad Gable is another match that I feel like is starting to bubble up for WrestleMania 41.

30:37 El Grande, Americana, which is something everybody's been using this joke. I feel like I ordered at Starbucks over the weekend. Fills in for the under the weather Chad Gable makes his raw debut by masking Dragon Lee and causing them to tap out. The storyline feels like something the old creative regime would have written honestly, as well, especially when he comes out from the golf of America as his location. Not sure if I'm necessarily liking this Dr. Trey, but it certainly feels like Mysterio versus Chad Gable could be something on the WrestleMania card. >> Yeah, I mean, it does. I'm wondering if we'll actually get Gable or El Grande Americana because I think there is an underwhelming part of the population that you love this.

31:22 For me, it's wrestling. I don't take anything they do seriously when it comes to that stuff, but there are some people who, you know, totally buy in. It's still real to us, damn it. So I think it does cater to that as well. I mean, I would love to see Chad Gable and Rey Mysterio WrestleMania. I don't want to see El Grande Americana because I want Chad Gable to get as many of his moments as possibly can. So that on paper makes a lot of sense. It also makes a lot of sense to do just American made versus whatever incarnation of the LWO, you want to come up with as well to get everybody featured on the show. >> And then finally here, Dr. Trey, I feel like we're going to see the World Tag Team championship involved.

32:07 The War Raiders defending against the New Day is a possibility because they look like they're starting to build towards something with the World titles. Being involved in the WrestleMania 41, New Day wants to be in that match. I could see War Raiders New Day at least at the start here being in the World Tag Team title match. >> Yeah, it just, to me, it still kind of depends on where you're going with the Creed Brothers because I mean that Creed Brother War Raider, a little many few they had last month was pretty good. So I can see them going, if you do Gable and Mysterio one on one, hey, bring the New Day, Creed Brothers, which would be ironic because you'd have consequences Creed who is not a Creed Brother, but he is a brother, like it gets the War Raiders who aren't brothers, but act like Brom so confused right now.

32:51 But yes, any incarnation of those three teams I'm fine with because they're all enjoyable to watch. >> So that's a total of 15 matches. Six confirmed, seven rumored right now, Dr. Trey. Excuse me, eight rumored right now. Thought on how the Resuminate card is laying out right now. >> Like I think it's a solid card, I don't know. Do I have more anticipation this year than last year, probably not. >> I think last year's a lot was banking on Cody finishing his story. I don't know if we're all entirely bought in on everything else yet. Plus you had, I mean you had Seth doing double duty as well.

33:32 Cody doing double duty, Roman doing double duty. So I mean it's, it was a little, I guess it would be heavier on the star power with having those three guys work twice than this year. But yeah, at the same time, I think it's a very, very solid card from top to bottom. And I do think like we said, if there's 15 rumored matches and 15's what they produce, I think three will end up over on the Smackdown before WrestleMania as well. I think, I think 12 is where we're headed for the two nights of WrestleMania total. >> Apologies for the botch, six confirmed, nine rumored right now, I cannot count. So you're thinking six and six for night one and night two.

34:13 >> Yeah, I mean that sounds about right to me. I mean you're looking at three hours each that gives each match about 20 to 25 minutes if they want to go that route with time in between and then you can move three matches over on the Smackdown to give Smackdown a good show heading into WrestleMania. >> Okay, I could see that too. I would be fine with six and six. I feel like the cap here is probably 14, seven and seven each night. So that, I tend to think, and I agree with you because Meltzer reported this, I believe today, or on Wednesday and said that he feel, they're feeling his right now some of the matches that were earmarked as potential for WrestleMania will be playing out on most likely the Smackdown before WrestleMania.

34:56 Maybe the loss for WrestleMania. >> I'm gonna say, because you still got a lot of guys that we haven't mentioned yet that have nothing to do. You don't have shame as kind of, there's a lot of people that don't have anything booked yet, that you're going to fill out Smackdown with as well. So there's still some undercard stuff that could develop as well before we even get to the WrestleMania. Since we're talking about Raw and Smackdown here and there's obviously brands and separate rosters, that is completely out the window for most of the storylines I didn't wrestle many right now, Dr. Trey. I'm fine with it. I mean, you have the Smackdown champion in Cody Rhodes carrying forth his storyline on Monday Night Raw with John Cena.

35:37 You have a punk and Rollins who are raw guys going at the triple threat match with Roman Reigns on Smackdown. Do you have any issues with the brand extension basically being out the window so that we get a good build for WrestleMania 41 right now? >> Because this is kind of the norm for WrestleMania season. I kind of feel like they do this almost every year, where it's like, yeah, from about, after Rumble from February through WrestleMania, brand extension doesn't matter. And then we get the hard reset coming up in post WrestleMania where we kind of goes back to our side. It is weird to me that USA has no problem with Cody being on Netflix every single week and not being on Smackdown.

36:23 So it is kind of one of those things, it was like, wait, your top guys not going to be on our show that we paid you a bunch of money for. He's going to be on the other show. That would be a red flag. Other than that, right now, give me brand extension once we get back into May. And so that way we can see who gets hot heading into next year's Rumble. I'll say who's so this year. But right now it's about like making the biggest and best matches possible. So if you have to mix and match brands right now, I think I'm okay with it. >> Keep in with WrestleMania 41 weekend, Dr. Trey is now become official. We talked about it about two weeks ago as your Facebook Fred, Fred Ottman also known as Typhoon.

37:03 And now it's the non his personal Facebook page. The natural disasters have been added to the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025, earthquake and typhoon, John Tenta, Fred Ottman. Thoughts on this one, Dr. Trey, to me these are two guys that are very deserving. I mean they've had different characters throughout their career, whether it be earthquake or shark. Typhoon was the shock master, tugboat as well. Any thoughts here about these guys? Other thoughts here about them joining the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025? >> Yeah, to me they're one of the great, I think they're often overlooked when we talk about great tech.

37:43 Like back in their prime as the natural disasters, they were nearly untouchable. Like there was nobody else that could match up them physically. It took the demolitions and the roadwires and teams like that to kind of come in to upstage them. But during their prime, I mean when earthquake first attacked Hulk Hogan, you're like, dear God, this man's massive. And then when they brought in tugboat, you're like, this is a joke of a character, but then he became typhoon, you're like, this is great. And then even the stuff they did in WCW over the years, it was so good. Even people really tend to came back as Golga in the oddities and try to make that work. I mean, these guys, not just their work as the natural disasters, but just as their work in general over wrestling over their 2025 years that they were in the business active for.

38:33 They totally deserve it. I don't know, did you play the WWE Arcade game as a kid? >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. >> Like earthquake was just like, I love using, I always use, I always use Jake the snake and earthquake as my tag team because I'd hit the DDT and then follow it up with the earthquake splash. >> Well, when earthquake would do is finishing move, he would bounce around in the ring. And I was in that like shaking on the screen, so that was always pretty cool. The good old days, the good old days. So congratulations to the natural disasters being added officially to the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025. Well, we're on the subject, Dr. Trey. Do you find it odd that WWE has not formally announced that like the Hall of Fame is going to be airing on peacock this year?

39:13 I know the roast of WrestleMania that they're doing is not going to be airing anywhere that that's just for ticketed events. But to me, so far, like you're seeing nothing where there are now to the Hall of Fame class and then you could see it on peacock live that night. Do you find that odd? A little bit, but it's also, I think they're trying to figure out which the best platform to place it on and when the best time is. I think they've ran into years past where maybe the audience wasn't up to the level you want to be or maybe the venue wasn't right. So I think they're trying to get all their ducks in the room and they still got five weeks, four weeks before media. So there's still a little bit of time to figure it out.

39:54 They know who their core base is, they know who watches the Hall of Fame stuff. The Hall of Fame stuff typically isn't for general fans to tune in and watch three hours of people talking about their mommas. It's more for the hardcore fans like us. So I think the only ones they put it out there, people like you and me and our audience are going to matriculate to it no matter where it's at. So I think they just want to make sure it's in the right setting, the right venue and the right audience for it. Well, I think they have the right setting. They're going to be doing at that hotel that they have and the right venue and all that stuff. It's supposed to air I think at eight o'clock clock Pacific time, which would be 11 o'clock on the East Coast for you time fans out there.

40:35 I'm getting the vibe that it's not airing on peacock and maybe airing after the fact, which I guess I'm fine with since it's down in Las Vegas and be airing so late. I know Friday going into Saturday of WrestleMania weekend is rough for the fans that are watching live myself included on all that. It's also feeling like WWE is on its way off of peacock. I think their contract runs until early next year or maybe the end of this year because not only that doctor tray, this is some I've wanted to bring up. But basically here we are 11 years later since the launch of the WWE Network in 2014, February 2014. And basically the WWE network is now up for free on YouTube and WWE and WCW Vault sections.

41:21 So you can nearly see anything you want nowadays on YouTube for free. I'm just getting the vibe that the peacock air is coming to an end. >> Yeah, and that's not a bad thing in a lot of ways. You and I have talked many, many times about the user friendliness of the peacock, which was not that great. So this might be one of those things where they were just like, hey, if we slowly take everything down, then we can use it as a negotiating platform and see who wants to stream all of our content to the highest bidder. I mean, the Hall of Fame may not have been in any of the contract negotiations with anybody and they could just come back and say, hey, who wants to air our Hall of Fame ceremony as kind of a one off or a yearly thing going forward afterwards.

42:13 So I'll be glad when they're off peacock because honestly, the only reason I have a peacock account is for WWE. And once they're finally gone completely, I'll be removing my peacock subscription. >> You and me both, Dr. Trey, that is exactly right. And yeah, I unfortunately cannot wait for that day because, yes, playback for peacock, nothing great. Moving over to AEW, Dr. Trey. AEW Wednesday night dynamite will become the longest running prime time weekly pro wrestling program in Turner Sports history. On Wednesday, April the 16th, I wonder who they're taking a shot at there.

42:54 But taking shots at Eric Bishoff aside, that's like shocking to me, Dr. Trey. I would have never in my wildest dreams thought just because of like timeline sake that AEW would turn out to be the longest, AEW dynamite with the longest running weekly prime time wrestling show in Turner Sports history when it had WCW Nitro on it. But there we go, that's what we have. >> Yeah, prime time wise, I wasn't as surprised. This one of those things where like as you get older time goes by a lot faster than when you're a kid. Because it is weird, oh my god, man, they've been around that long ago. Yeah, they would like, Sammy was born right before dynamite really kind of took off in Sammy's now six.

43:37 So yeah, it makes sense in that watch. And Nitro for as much fun as it was early on and then we had the interview years, it kind of crashed pretty hard, you know, post that. So it wasn't that long. I like that they use this as it's the longest running prime time. But you know, Saturday night or WCW Saturday night aired at 605, which was an hour before prime time starts. So that's where you can kind of get away with using that loophole. Although there's pardon me though that really does. I wish this was airing at the same venue the last Nitro aired from and Shane McMahon showed up. >> That would only, that would make it perfect.

44:17 >> Yeah, and it's just kind of funny that like the theme of it is a spring break one. Which is another probably subtle shot. >> Can we get the ring inside of a pool again? >> I know those days. >> Those were awesome. Was it Scott Hall got pushed into the pool or something? >> Scott Hall did and I think I'm pretty sure was Scott Hall. I thought there was one that girls did also. >> Oh, that would be the camera. >> Which one is back there? >> Was it major guns? >> I don't know. >> I don't know. I mean that's for the last episode of Nitro was. Was that a resort in Panama City, Florida? >> Yeah.

44:58 >> Dr. Trey, who's right? Because this is a direct shot at Eric Bischoff. Who's right in your mind during these situations? Is it, do you agree typically with Eric Bischoff or is he too harsh when it comes to AW in their creative? >> I think Eric's a little jaded and biased against it. I think sometimes he goes a little bit too far with stuff. He's not as bad as Jim Cornett as a times, but he does get, he's a little jaded. I mean, I remember like he was on their programming. Bischoff was on, you know, early edition of Dynamite with Conrad Thompson, and now they do a show together. And it's like, but Eric took the job at WWE and he said nothing but glowing things about WWE since he left.

45:44 Even though he was fired from there, but he continuously takes shots at AEW. I do think AEW does try to jab him back at times, like this week's edition of Dynamite. But I do think Eric's a little jaded towards them. I don't think AEW is not as bad as Bischoff lays out. It's not as good as they lay out, but it's somewhere in the middle. And that's where I kind of landed. There's the, he said she said in the truth is usually in the middle. That's kind of where I lay where I just, I just think Eric's a little jaded towards AEW right now. >> I thought you were going to get into a limp-piscuit song as you said that there. He said she said it. >> I mean, I could, it's all about that.

46:24 So I could go down that route. I mean, I did see a picture of Fred Durs and it is WrestleMania season. And he could come back out and do that crazy dance that was featured in video games for like eight years. >> Yes, yes, the WWE video game you play as Fred Durs. >> I agree with Eric Bischoff at times. I do think he's very harsh, but I also think Tony Khan can be like completely blind where he's like. >> He could be better than WCW. And yeah, okay, you've been on there episodically longer than WCW was, but I mean WCW. I mean that run from 96 to 2000 was phenomenal. I mean that was, if they did not have Turner running the company WCW would still be here today.

47:09 In my mind. So I think they're both in the wrong if that's an easy way to put it. Dr. Trey. >> I mean, I look at it like when you factor, I mean how many people still talk about the mothership? You know, it's the mothership, 6.05, like people like us, that's ingrained into our memory. So, you know, NWA, WCW, it was not just the prime time stuff. It was must-fear watching for any wrestling fan as a kid or as a young adult growing up that you had to jump on. TBS on Saturdays of Ketchay. It just when Bischoff moved it to money nicely directly compete with Roy, it was great. I agree with you. If AOL time-owner had not bought out WCW from the Turner, it would have been or it still would have been around today.

47:51 There was enough revenue coming in that it wasn't a big enough loss. And some of those people in those contracts, those albatross contracts that were weighing the company out were going to drop off before long anyway. That's why Vince just weighed them out. You remember, all those guys that had those great big AOL time-owner contracts that they're all waiting on to dry up? It was a year, maybe a year and a half, and they were all up. So it wouldn't have taken that long to actually stick it out to then get rid of those contracts and renegotiate them. So, yeah, I mean, it's a little bit of, like you said, you got one guy saying, "We're going to be better than this guy." And this guy, another guy saying, "Well, we were already pretty great."

48:32 And the truth is, both companies laying kind of in the middle, like nobody outside of that, you know, 83, that year and a half run, nobody's ever really put WWE down for more than that time. So, I mean, Dynamite got close with beating NXT, but that's the extent of that run. Bishop had a year and a half long run, and then they folded two years later. So nobody's really right. Nobody's really wrong. This thing is kind of, it's too grumpy old men pulling out their penises and saying which is bigger. Yes, that's definitely what it is. I mean, WWE pushed WWE so much to the brink there that they were taking the water coolers out of the offices and stamp for to save money.

49:18 So, yeah, there you go. AW Wednesday night Dynamite will become the longest running primetime weekly pro wrestling program in Turner Sports history on April the 16th. I find that shocking just because it feels like WCW was around a lot longer than, or WCW Nitro was around a lot longer than it actually was, which is mind blowing when you compare Nitro and Dynamite here at some point. Last thing I wanted to bring up, Dr. Trey, and we did not talk about it on last week's show, last Thursday, wrestling legend, retired. Homicide, who is a former R.A.T.R.O. champion, TNA Tag Team Champion, Champion Retired.

49:59 Your thoughts on the career of Homicide? Arguably one of the most underrated wrestlers of the last 15, 20 years influenced a lot of the pro wrestlers. He was like one of those, he was like one of the cool guys, like the underground guys. Like he was Sabu before ECW, KBK Mainstream. He was on that level where people would literally, I don't say the tape training kind of went away the last 15, 20 years, but man, have you seen this guy homicide? I mean, the 1A7, the first time he ever dropped that on somebody, people lost their minds, just a tremendous influence across multiple lines of wrestling, especially upon the Hispanic population.

50:43 I'm glad to see him kind of going out, and maybe not on his own terms health wise, but at least able to go out on his own. We've seen a lot of people recently pass, we've had a couple people on the independent scene pass away in the ring in the last few weeks. So getting his health taken care of and stepping away on his own accord is fantastic, but he's had a hell of a run. Just wish he could have gotten featured more promptly, some of the bigger capacities, but just a tremendous influence on the wrestling culture as a whole. The good old days of independent professional wrestling was when homicide was at his height, the good old days of ring of honor for our weight world champion, as I pointed out before.

51:26 Final battle 2006 was a very memorable moment. I remember him winning the title over Brian Danielson in Manhattan Center. Everybody at the time that song We Fly High was very popular where everybody would do ballin like MVP does and shoot the shot. And I just remember him winning the championship, and they were playing that song because I think he was coming out to that song as his main entrance music at that point and the crowd was just loving it. That was a great moment him winning the R.O.H. World title. Had to see him become into prominence on television in the United States, on TNA, tagging with Hernandez, teaming with Conan with LAX. The best version of LAX was that version of the Latin American exchange.

52:08 Yeah, you had to seem go out like this because of injury. I think he said he has a cyst on his brain, but his health is most important. So just a one of a kind wrestler, it is an end of an error. And I loved seeing all the tributes that were paid out there from people in AW and WWE, cross professional wrestling for homicide because he was definitely one of the best, one of the greats and influenced a ton of people that are in professional wrestling today. So salute to homicide, 1-8-7. I was there when he returned to R.O.H. in September 2009, to the last match for Tyler Blacken R.O.H., now known as Seth Rollins. He dropped the title to Roderick Strong. And at the celebration there, homicide made his surprise return to R.O.H.

52:51 I was in the room for the Manhattan Center and the people went absolutely nuts, such a beloved star, all the best to homicide. As whatever he does next, I'm sure he will continue to be very, very successful. And a legit badass, folks. I used to hang out with a couple folks at R.O.H. Post show in Manhattan in a bar, rate in the shadows of Madison Square Garden and you did not go up to homicide and Joel Smoke. They certainly smelled like a type of smoke, but they would only let you come over and hang out. And I was not one of those people because homicide just kind of kept to himself that night, even hanging out with a couple people in the company that were very well respected.

53:36 And yeah, he was one of a kind, homicide. So salute once again to the 187 notorious 187 homicide. When that said, let's close up shop on this week's edition of SRT and get a couple plugs and sponsors out of the way. You can download the show every Thursday or Friday at realguyraio.com, Russell Chatnet on X. And to still real though, show feed on Apple Spotify or Riverview Download this podcast. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe as the algorithm is king for helping us keep climbing the charts for all those podcast platforms. You can follow us individually on X from myself at SRT, U.J.F. and for Dr. Tray Franklin at the Dr. Tray. And of course, don't forget to follow show on X at SRT podcast. With that being said, what is going on in the wonderful world of Dr. Tray Franklin this week?

54:20 Well, like Jeff said, as he was losing his voice, you can find me on X at the Dr. Tray. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook. Just search out Dr. Tray Franklin when you're on Facebook. Be sure to check out Rockets, HD, Habyship, Wrestling. We just had our fun little makeup show this past Saturday. Our next show coming up in two weeks as we head towards WrestlingCon 8. Actually May 3rd from Hazel Green, Alabama. As we have some of the people joining us have been announced. Sam Adonis, the brother of Corey Graves, AAA Lucho Libre Star will be coming in. For Crazy, we'll be in the house for that show. Sin Bodie will be coming in. And the aforementioned hernandez will be making his Rockets, City Championship Wrestling debut for WrestlingCon 8.

55:05 Like I said, check out the Facebook page. If you're in the area and want to come get tickets, go to the Facebook page, check it out. Come see us in action. It's our biggest show of the year. And one of our most fun shows to attend as we get really, really interactive with our audience at times. So there you go. All the great things that support the Sto Realto show and spread the word about this very podcast. Enjoy the rest of your week. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you for downloading. Thank you for tuning in. And until next week for Dr. Ray Franklin, I am Jeff Peck. This has been the Sto Realto show.