The Final Stretch to WrestleMania 41! | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #791 – 04/10/25

0:00 It's still real to me, damn it! What up, you! Welcome, everybody! Welcome to this week's "Indicenesto Rilla" show, Episode number 791 for April 10, 2025 Welcome to this week's edition of "SRTU" I am one-up to show I am Jeff Pett, joined every single week of my close-level without you, Frank Lim, Dr. Trey, we are less than 10 days away from WrestleMania, my friend.

0:40 It's crazy to think that, I mean, I know we'd say that every year, that it just kind of feels like it came out of nowhere, but, yeah, I mean, this time last year, I was getting ready to have, you know, massive foot surgery and then it's like, nope, all that's done, we're on a whole new year, whole new ballgame, and John Cena is a heel, Kevin Owens has got a broken freakin' neck, and the world is upside down and crazy as we head into WrestleMania. Yeah, it's amazing, right? I mean, it just, this is what happens the older we get, right? We're like, all of a sudden, 'cause what would you see?

1:21 I've ever seen the countdown being at like 65 days out, and now here we are less than 10 days, it's like, man, this is wild, I mean, but that's what happens the older you get. Yeah, I mean, that's, it's, Y's man, and by Y's man, I don't mean Paul Heyman, I mean my dad, but he always told me that as you get older, everything goes by faster, and when you're a kid, you're like, no, there's no, I mean, Jeff, do you remember back in the days when you were in school, and you would sit there and stare at the clock on the wall? Oh, yeah. And it would take forever for things to go by, and nowadays you just kind of glance down at your lodge, and it's 130, you do something, you look down at it's 245, you're like, how did an hour and 15 minutes fly pass?

2:06 Yeah, how did we get here? Like, it's, yeah, it's just, it's, it's crazy how true that really is, you know, the older we get, the faster time flies by, and that's what we're sitting here, you know, just a couple of days out from 10 days out from WrestleMania. Yeah, this is our 15th WrestleMania we've covered here in the still real though show. A 16th in my life of podcasting. So the show started with WrestleMania 26, and here we are, WrestleMania 41, and we will preview predict WrestleMania 41 and WrestleMania 41 weekend all on next week's edition of SRTU. But we do have some updates here, Dr. Trey. We have our WrestleMania 41 card roundup. We have several new and confirmed matches.

2:47 The first being Jade Cardgill taken on Naomi is now official. A Jade attacks Naomi before an after Naomi's match where she defeats beefab on Smackdown. Smackdown GM, Nick, all this comes out post match and makes their match at WrestleMania 41 official. The crazy stat for this match, Jade Cardgill versus Naomi at WrestleMania 41 will officially mark the first non-title women's single match at the event since 2006. And this will mark the first non-title women singles match with no stipulations attached in the event's history. Mind blowing, Dr. Trey, Jade Cardgill Naomi is official.

3:27 Does that make Jade Cardgill a stalk? Like if you're putting her on the show in a non-title match, and no weird stipulations yet, I'm throwing in yet because I mean we still got a ten days, we still got a Smackdown coming up and that could change. Does that make her a bonafide star in the eyes of WWE? You're putting her on this stage in this role because I mean she's only had what? Maybe five singles matches so far in WWE? Everything else has been tag team or six person tags? That's a lot of faith in somebody who's only has less than ten singles matches in her.

4:14 WWE career? Absolutely they do. I mean Jade is someone that can break through from a pop culture standpoint. You can see her in movies, see her acting, see her as a household name. It's just whether or not Jade could put it together in the ring. And that has always been her downfall. In A.W. it was very noticeable when she was green. Loved her look, loved her character. The in-ring stuff was kind of always. Yeah, and they've covered it up well, let her run tag teams over the last year, her first full year in WWE before her injury. But this will be a major showcase, Dr. Trace. She's in there with one of the best female wrestlers in the game today in Naomi. And this will be a true test.

4:55 So I am pumped and hyped up for this match at WrestleMania and to answer your question, yeah, they definitely see her as a star. Yeah, I'm excited for her to be featured in a showcase in WrestleMania. And I'm saying luckily Naomi can kind of carry a match if she needs to. It's just a big stage to be on that if you have a couple of green moments in the match is going to stand out. But it's also been a very one-sided feud. We've really only seen Naomi have the upper hand once so far since Jade came back. So I'm kind of expecting Naomi to have a big moment on SmackDown heading into WrestleMania to kind of get people questioning if Jade's going to beat her.

5:45 Because right now it's been lopsided, does that relate to? Yeah, I think I do think Jade is the favorite going to this, right? But I really love the tournament that Naomi characters taken so far. I mean, it's been great. I think, I know it's very early on, but I'm watching, so I'm like, this could be a really big turning point for her. This could be something that a year from now pays off for Naomi to be in a major title match. I'm excited for it and sometimes you need feuds like this. That is a new and confirmed match. Next one being is LA Knight defending the United States Championship against Jacob Fought 2. We finally got some clarity there. That was one that Dr. Traynide never really knew where it was headed.

6:25 Jacob Fought 2 defeats Braun Strowman in a great last man standing match to figure out who will be the number one contender for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 41. And for all those that are like, you always point out when AW does weird things booking wise, why don't you do it with WWE? Well, here's your moment. Why didn't WWE hype this up as a match that would crown the number one contender for the US title at WrestleMania 41? Like, why was it until the introduction that we're talking about that? I did not see that hyped up anywhere. So Fought 2 vs LA Knight is now official for WrestleMania 41. Dr. Trayn, this is what we wanted to see. And I feel like he got two baby faces going into this one. Yeah, I mean Fought 2 is kind of a tweener. I guess he's kind of in that Braun Breaker category where he's still kind of a e-eel because he had some e-eel moments in that match with Braun.

7:14 But Braun, I mean, Strowman, not Breaker in that instance, but he's just such an anomaly physically that it's hard not to cheer for him. Like, he does stuff that nobody else, his size, should be doing. I mean, it's crazy. So I'm just, I am a little confused because now you don't have Solo who last year was in a lot of featured stuff heading into Mania and then coming out of Mania. And you don't have Braun Strowman on the card. So are we getting the Andre Battle Royal again to put some of these guys in who aren't going to be in title matches at Mania now?

7:57 There's a lot of big names done on this card. So let's go up on Strowman, Shamus I was thinking about he has been off of the card for a while and I had Jax. It was a prominent figure in the women's division. Samming is aane, but who knows, there may be an opening now more on that in just a second. This match was confirmed and now the update is new and confirmed. It'll be EO Sky defending the women's world championship against Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match. Adam Pierce makes this match into a triple threat to kick off raw and a kind of anti-climatic way. And we finally got to where we thought it would go, which was a triple threat. Dutch Tray after all that build, it was like, yeah, we're going to make this into a triple threat match.

8:39 It's now officially. This once again is one of those ones where you call it W.E. for this is just bad booking to get to this like you could have just gone this way to start with instead of having this weird thing. And we ended with Adam Pierce going, okay, guys, I messed up. It's my fault. So now we're going to have the triple threat, the thing that he was trying to avoid. We're now having so I have really not been a fan of the booking of this whole storyline since day one. Still not a fan of it because you have three bona fide baby faces. This isn't even really like we'll talk about, I'm sure we'll talk about punk rains and Rawls at some point.

9:21 This isn't even shades of gray. Like all three of these women are baby faces and you went the weird way around to get to it. So I mean on paper, this should be a fun match. I still think the money matches just Rhea against Bianca. This is in a lot of ways reminiscent of Rousey, Becky and Charlotte where we just wanted Rhonda and Becky and Charlotte was in there. We really just want Rhea and Bianca at WrestleMania and you're shoe-horning EOA who's a fine wrestler, but not what we really want to see as wrestling. Wow, I disagree with that completely. I think EO is the most over person in this match right now.

10:03 You think EO is more over than Rhea Rhea? Yes, yes right now. I mean she's getting the reaction from the crowds in the international tour. I don't think it's Rhea Bianca than EO. EO is climbing the charts. I mean people are behind her. And I think that's because of the only good parts of this booking. I've not been a big fan of this build whatsoever because it always felt like a triple threat match. And the way they got there was kind of clunky, but I feel like the one big takeaway is that they've made the disrespect towards EO Sky make the fans in dear to her even more. Yeah, I get that. I just think if you went off straight, for one of the international tours, I don't go off-crowders because those international crowds are little weird at times.

10:50 Those here are certain people that they don't share in the state. I don't know who though. I mean you can't really say that because the crowd is the pulse of what is over Rhea. Kaiser has Kaiser got a huge pop. He's the hometown. He's the hometown guy. I would be with you if it was like. It's all of Europe. It's the same town everywhere. I thought it was just Belgium. No, I was saying like every time he's come out on the even on the house shows like on the year just anywhere in Europe, Kaiser is getting big pops. Now it might be because everybody hates Charlotte and they know that he's in there with Tiffany. So maybe that was before all that, but to be fair, they did test him as a baby face on the international loop. So there was some of that too.

11:33 I still I think like she's getting the eos getting a bigger baby face reaction because of the way that sorrows been put together. I get that. But I think just if you will look to merch sales, it'd be Rhea Bianca eo. And I'm not trying to disrespect eo like she's so saying like she's a fine competitor, but you go back to the rumble a couple years ago and when you had Rhea Bianca facing off and we were all like, oh that's a WrestleMania dream match. That's a WrestleMania match and you had that opportunity to have that as your WrestleMania match and I get it. You're trying to help eo get over even more, but I think on paper people still want to see just Rhea and Bianca, but I, but the eo thing has worked in the sense of it's got her more over, but I still think just on paper people wanted to be on.

12:25 I don't know about that. I think I disagree with you on that one doctor. I don't think that Rhea and Bianca was the headliner actually I think people got behind eo once once you have the title, but we agreed to disagree. Yeah, once she got the title, I'm just saying like when we came out of elimination paper and it looked like Rhea Bianca, there were a lot of people who wanted to see just those two go ahead to hit. Agreed, but that kind of gives credence to the booking. I don't think eo was not over with the crowd. I don't think this is like that they threw, you know, Jane Doe that wasn't super over. I mean, eo is super over with the crowd now. Yeah, I guess I'll take, I saw a video with Paul Heyman talking about wrestling booking, what I wanted out easy it is and signs when you have two main eventers.

13:10 And then you add in semi main eventer into the mix. It now makes that semi main eventer, a main eventer by working with these two. I never looked at eo prior to this semi main event. I mean, she was the women's champion in WrestleMania last year. Yeah, but I always looked at her as like a B level champion. I mean, maybe that's just, yeah, surprised by that. Yeah, no, I mean, if I looked at the, if I looked at the higher, she was like the most over person in the segment this past Monday. Yeah, it's probably you're probably right. It's just in my head, like when I was looking at the hierarchy of the women in WWE, eo was maybe five or six.

13:52 I would agree with you on that in like January. And I think she ascended upwards, which we've seen before heading into WrestleMania where people have capitalized on that, whether it be Daniel Bryan at Kofi Kingston. Hell, even Bianca Belair a couple years ago, it was at four years ago, WrestleMania 37 against Sasha. I think going into early January, she was on a losing streak, goes in the rumble, wins the rumble. And then she just ascended from there. I mean, that's kind of what WrestleMania season is all about at times as well. So we will break down that match all on next week's edition of SRTU. The next match here that is now official is a fatal four away for the WWE in account. No championship is Bronn Breaker defense against Finn Balor, Dominic Mysterio and Penta.

14:33 The match as I met before made official on Raw later in the evening, Penta defeats Dominic Mysterio and a one on one match. Carlito gangs up on Penta along with Dominic post match until Bronn Breaker makes the save. Laying everyone out, including in the same looking spirit of Carlito, Finnopier's lays out Bronn Breaker, holds in an account title up as well. And avoids being laid out by Bronn once he comes to again in that segment. So Dr. Tre, this I see title match is now official. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this one. I mean, like you said, that spear was insane. Like I literally thought when Bronn flipped through Carlito, if he landed on his feet. Like that would have been more. I mean, he had so much eyes. I literally thought he was going to flat foot landed. So, but I'm really intrigued by this match because I want to see where they go because the icy title, you know, usually is coming stepping those title.

15:27 We've seen it done many times in the past. You feel like Bronn Breaker is ready to make that ascension up to main event level status. But who do they pull the trigger with? Like I almost like a Finn wins the let down. I think everybody's either hoping for Penta or Dom. And look, early on, my money right now is on Dom. You know, I'm with you on that one. I think this is being set up for Dominic Mysterio to win the Accommodal Championship because I think the Finn Dominic storyline is more important right now than anything they do with Penta and Bronn coming on a mania. Yeah, I think Penta is so over. Penta is what WCW could have done with LaParca with LaParca.

16:11 I can't chairman of JVW. No, it's crazy. Yes, but at one point, LaParca was super over, you know, at one point and then WCW. So is El Danby. No, no, El Danby hard call them out and promo. They called out Ouventude, you know, Jericho's first night and then he became the juke for grind out, but LaParca back for a while was super, because it was the dance. It was all the fun. Penta has that energy. They just put way more glitzing glamour and fire were like everything was behind it. So he doesn't really need an ice title win. You know, he can come out of this and feud with Dom and people be in on it.

16:54 I don't know about that because I think there are fans at a hard course that obviously don't for me W impact wrestling stuff he did outside of AAA, CML, whatever. But I think Penta with the inner car will champion to help raise his stock up to make it continue to be super over. You could have Dom win at media and then have Dom Fendue their thing and then Dom Penta and that and then Penta gets over like, you know, around summer slam or something and I think that's fine. I think plus you there is the Ray Phoenix factor is to do they somehow postmania slide Penta and Phoenix back together or do we keep them separate until we get to next media and then they're in the world tag team title match.

17:38 Here's what I'll say about the layer that I threw out there about Finn and Dominic. It looks like they could be headed toward something where there's a turn. My assumption would be Finn turning baby face and judgment day taking out Finn. If that happens, I think the judgment day storyline is dead because at that point they've turned on edge. They've turned on reandame and then they've turned on Finn. It's like what is the point of this? I mean, at one point I compared it to on the level of the bloodline. Maybe a couple steps by the bloodline of my interest into whatever the judgment day was doing on a week to week basis. It is definitely falling off and I don't think that they could run a bloodline ask storyline say like Finn reandame and reunite to take on this other judgment day.

18:21 I'll love bloodline versus new bloodline and make it successful. It's like this is a really interesting time for the judgment day which has been a phenomenal act on WWE television for three years running. I think it was a WrestleMania 38 in Dallas. Was it the night after Mania? 30. It was Edge versus AJ where the judgment day became a thing where Damien helped out. 39 was Edge versus Finn in the Hell in a Cell match. 40 Edge was gone by then in the AEW. This has been three years running. I think they would have established 2022 on their graphic.

19:04 This is a turning point for the judgment day. I'll definitely preview this more on next week's edition of SRTU. Another match that was made official Dr. Trey Ray Mysterio will be taken on El Grande Americano aka Chad Gable. We assume El Grande Americano and the Creed Brothers defeat the LW on Raw after El Grande Americano put a loaded weapon in his mask and wins via the diving headbutt. Mysterio asks Adam Pierce for a match against El Grande Americano at WrestleMania 41 which is the raw GM grant. While Rey Mysterio is well respected veteran Adam Pierce is like I will give you a match whenever wherever you want against El Grande Americano. Of course Rey is like well then give it to me in Mania. Sure you've got it.

19:46 So there we go Rey Mysterio we thought was going to be taken on Chad Gable. Just didn't assume it would be in a mask Dr. Trey. Hey maybe we end up getting a mask versus mask match at WrestleMania. But that's assuming that El Grande Americano is Chad Gable. I mean for all we know it's Bryan Danielson because Bryan Danielson loves doing that flying headbutt. So you never know it could be quite a few people who fit that size. I mean it could be that guy there was that guy named Shorty G. I mean he was around the same size as Chad Gable but and you know it's El Grande you know El Shorty you know who knows. But yeah I mean this match like I love Rey. Rey obviously Rey lost a step but he's still one of the better in-ring competitors there is.

20:35 Chad Gable is arguably the best technical wrestler in the world today. It's going to be an outstanding match. I think that would be a great gimmick though to be do the mask versus mask match at Mania. Gable comes down and goes look El Grande is a friend of mine he says he'd do the match but it has to be a mask versus mask. Yeah I think that would be a little fun little twist on it instead of just a straight up singles match. I mean but then again they may they may have plans for El Grande Americano to run this angle out for six more months. And then that's just me fancy booking something that they've already got booked out for six months. I feel like a mass is coming off at Mania would not shock me if it's El Grande Americano did not think of the mass versus mass stuff.

21:19 I mentioned this a couple weeks ago this feels like such old school WWE booking. I'm not really a huge fan of it because it's too cartoony for me but whatever it gets Chad Gable on the rest of any car in a match against Rey Mysterio so I'm all for it. This match became official on Thursday today. Drew McAntyre vs. Damien Priests. McAntyre and Priests cut two really good promo backstage during SmackDown sending the state for how we got where we were from both perspectives in regards to their rivalry. Priests makes the challenge to see McAntyre face to face in the ring on this week's SmackDown and challenges big Drew to match a restaurant in 41. This match became official on Adam Pierce's excuse me Nick all this is social media on Thursday and now we await if big Drew can wrestle based on his lead legit eye injury.

22:03 So according reports he is not the clear which is not good Dr. Trey because I want Drew McAntyre there. Thoughts as Drew McAntyre vs. Damien Priests finally becomes official. I have to ask you a very serious question. Are you following Nick all this on X? No I just happened to see it on DoDo's Instagram. That's how I found it also. I found it through something else. I love you to death man. I just didn't know if you were following Nick all this on X. So you know on paper once again this is arguably a match that could steal the shot. I know I've said this about five matches but these guys are two of the better big man wrestlers in the world today. I'm excited for the match if it happens. Flip side is with the with the blinding angle. Could we get a blindfold match or you know the Jake Roberts Rick Martell style match from WrestleMania three.

22:54 Cover the faces up make it equal and then that's full match. Yeah that was already double eye patch double eye patch match. Okay I you know that'd be a first double eye patch match and then just like and then it should be a guess referee could be PCO and he could bring back his what was it Paul Pierre Carl Ulet. Yeah Pierre Carl Ulet character that was a pirate. The pirate. Stay tuned folks. Paul Bertrand Paul Bertrand still floating around the Indies. I mean he was a pirate. Yeah he and he's a firefighter as well. So why not. And then we'll get to our confirm matches here just to go through some of those some news and notes Cody Roach versus John Cena for the WWE championship.

23:35 We had no face to face confrontation this week which was I was I was fearful of however a cool video package to hype up the match to last of my kind by one of Dr. Trace favorite Shibuzy played on raw. It's not quite my way by limp is getting a WrestleMania 17 cool but I did find it cool it was also announced that on next week's edition of Smackdown John Cena making appearance so don't expect him on this Friday Smackdown this Monday's raw then last and next time we see him will be the night before WrestleMania night one on Smackdown. No real news on this one Dr. Trace which is kind of a letdown. Yeah I'm kind of bummed out that we had this big thing in the shame or the rock and Cody we haven't seen the rock.

24:18 Which was rumored because of his schedule in the U.S.L. and everything else but you know there's got to be pay off you out of this and maybe it's Cody wins and the Rock turns on Cena. You know and we had seen a rock three at some point or something in this magical mystery retirement tour so yeah it's a letdown but don't knock Shibuzy I like Shibuzy he's not he's not too bad so I thought you're going to say the big announcement coming out of this was that Shibuzy was going to appear in WrestleMania and you know I'm like it couldn't be any worse than what Hardy did it so much like a couple years ago. Next here is Gunther versus J.U. so for the World of the way championship J.U. is a pro-man Gunther following the beat down of Jimmy at the hands of Gunther the week before and Vows to get revenge for his brother and family against Gunther at WrestleMania 41 J.T.L.S. Gunther he knows how he knows he could beat him at WrestleMania and apologizes for the man he's about to become this went up a level here doctorate for me I really enjoyed this promo thoughts and take away from Gunther and J.U.S.O. build this past week.

25:22 We needed this like this was that promo from J that we've been kind of wanting and needing because look J.U.P. over the fans he's the fun love and kind of party guy like everybody loves him. We hadn't really seen that serious side come out in this whole rivalry. Excuse me still getting a rest rep but we needed this like this is we need our baby faces to have that edge where they can dial it in and basically go into ask a promote and now you guys even if it actually pays off if J has not only that edge in the promo but that edginess in the ring as well because that's something we really haven't seen outside of maybe is match with Roman.

26:09 You know everything else has been kind of like just fun even his match with Jimmy last year didn't really have that edge to it. You need to J need to show that he has that ability to take it up a notch and get really serious down the business and just get guys. Yeah enough of the like eating and all that stuff I'm all here for it but we need some seriousness out of them. So I'm glad that that the last two weeks for this have been really good for that that feud headed into WrestleMania 41. Speaking of turning up the heat Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair for the women's champion WWE women's championship. Stratton Flair had a really good verbal sparring back and forth on Smackdown this week where Tiffany came out looking like the winner of that battle as Charlotte couldn't get a word an edge wise and looked like the crowd's booze got to her.

26:54 And then these are actual notes I wrote on Friday Dr. Trey as I watched the segment I wrote there seems to be actual animosity between the both of them as shots against their personal lives took center stage. Really good job billy up the match this week. Russell votes on Twitter later tweeted Charlotte and Tiffany said very little what was in the rundown of them off script quite a bit. PW inside her later reported the Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair saving last night went way off the plan back in fourth verbiage in regards to Tiffany's Owen three line the belief among those spoken with this morning that was Saturday morning has actually fired away on Charlotte and were retaliation for how Flair ate her up on a previous face to face segment. That was the one from like two three weeks ago.

27:35 Some spoken with felt stratton stood up for herself in a way that put the spotlight back on her and in front of a Chicago crowd that was pro stratton. Whilst others felt like the same got a why and didn't help anyone. This was much talked about because of the real tension and it seems like that was legit if it wasn't and that was acting amazing job by Tiffany Stratton. Where this literally if this is a dial and you're like where am I at with this this few it's like it's at a five right now this got turned up to nine ten maybe eleven. This is really good and now we will see how they follow it up on this Friday smackdown the following weeks edition of smackdown not to try.

28:17 Yeah it's weird for I don't know where I land on this because I like my pro wrestling to be pro wrestling and when people are getting personal and like it felt. Personal but awkward at times like like neither one of them knew where to go with stuff and they were just going yep all right you said this I'm gonna say this and it felt personal so. I don't know about you I'm not I'm not the biggest Charlotte fan when it comes to her in ring work that there are times that she does stuff that I'm like yeah that just look bad and sometimes it feels like she does go. Stiff or two stiff at times in the ring which doesn't like the person she's working with so it's in the in the sense of a pro wrestling match and a pro wrestling feud I'm at a six but in the sense of is this a shoot like are they gonna start shooting on each other in the match like that's got me at like a nine to a 10 like I don't know.

29:19 Where the wrestling world ends in the real world begins because I mean the hell even. Kaiser was throwing stuff out on X you know post segments on all of that stuff but yeah it's it's weird in a sense of like this line of work is shoot with these two have gotten really blurred so I'm like I'm not expecting a great pro wrestling match but. I am interested to see if they just go completely off script about three cores the way there's match and just start firing up on each other. I knew something was up based on Charlottes like legitimate reaction she was definitely rattled and taken a back and then when Tiffany dropped the final line which I think it was like going three in marriages and then immediately rolled out of the ring I'm like this is this is it like scripted because I think if you do something like that you get face to face she rolls right out of the ring holds the title up and you could just tell like she got either because she thought it could have gotten bad yeah I mean Tiffany's afraid of Charlotte like what you like in a in a in a fist fight sense like this is the one that I love.

30:30 This is the one thing that I love about being in the pro wrestling business like there are things you will say in a ring that you wouldn't say to this person backstage because that person backstage could kick your ass in the ring you feel safe and that was one of those moments where Tiffany said something that in the inside the inside the ring she can get away with but if she has said that the Charlotte backstage Charlotte will probably knocked her out. And that's why she did that quick roll out and that's why Charlotte and fired off her last little line which I thought was utterly ridiculous my guess is that vignette they did where they were in two different locations and Charlotte ate her up which we talked about here on the podcast just like made Tiffany Tiffany look bad.

31:14 Somebody a veteran someone had to tell her that she needs to defend herself on television she needs to save this because she's looking bad right now and this is like the time to show WWE that you're the integral I think this was a career defining moment for Tiffany's friend doctor try she needed to do it sometimes you gotta be an asshole. Yeah and I tell you in Charlotte Charlotte's a bully in a lot of ways and I've watched her do this for years if she doesn't respect the person she's wrestling with or if she thinks or she feels like she's being disrespected by the company she will bully that person in the ring and on the mic and that's where I think this is gone and you're right I think somebody told Tiffany like look if she and I think a lot of the one that when Charlotte started doing this.

32:02 When Charlotte started doing that like high pitch valley girl talk during that promo that he said F this and fired that shot because somebody told her like you gotta stand up for yourself if you're gonna be the face of this company for the next 10 years you gotta show that you're not gonna back down to somebody like her. And then that's why she also rolled out the ring because I think she was the Charlotte would come after her. Yeah they raised the level there I don't think that's what they wanted to do and I know people like it didn't come off well I completely disagree I loved it I thought it was great and props to them I enjoyed it so there we go Tiffany versus Charlotte we'll talk about that and preview it all next week show.

32:46 So I'm unfortunate news here the Kevin Owens versus Randy Orton match Kevin Owens reveals he needs next surgery and that is match with Randy Orton is now off for us many 41 Smackdown General Manager Nick all this says or does have a match of us maybe 41 right now in order response with an RKO. So many levels here Dr. what should they do with Randy Orton for rest of many with less than 10 days ago 10 days to go I mean I feel awful for Kevin Owens. This was all bad because this was a good feud a good build and two guys that we really like watching I'm totally bummed out for Kevin Owens because he's gonna be up for probably the rest of the year and bummed out for Randy Orton because like where do you go from here now.

33:26 Yeah it's really tricky because I think the the two most natural opponents for Randy or are in the main event of night two. I mean those two guys right there have so much history with Randy and makes the most sense but you know where I mean you do have a couple of guys who are sitting open you know he has history with solo he has you know like you could go that route you could go. I think ideally what I would love to see this is just once again fancy booking is the match at night two ends and scene is holding the title and I hear voices in my head kicks in.

34:07 And we get an Orton scene of stare down you know at the end of the show or Orton Cody stare down you know I just I'm really confused about what you do with this because obviously you want Randy on the show somewhere somehow in some semblance. And a featured in a featured moment but when all the when all the you know when all the dance people when all the when all the dancers have partners. What do you do so it's it's a tricky situation I'm intrigued to see what they do with it because I still feel like Randy is going to be a feature spot in the show. I just don't know where you put them by the way long term storytelling is as well the RKO on all this remember when all this find them like two years ago for an RKO and Randy paid them double it.

34:55 And Randy said is for the next time so he got his next time so he's really paid up his fines yeah there it is I mean I think names that stick out to me I agree with you Cody and see it would be. Names I would immediately think of and that's not happening I think WrestleMania excuse me backlash in St. Louis I think we're going to big match for Randy Orton I would be surprised I don't think they would do Nick all this versus Randy Orton I could see Sammy Zane coming back against Randy Orton maybe a shameless put him in the match Braun Strowman I think solo is a very good choice as well. Orton's got to get on this car doctor and I don't know how they do it right now so the good thing is they've got three episodes left here two smack downs one raw where they could try to make something happen so stay tuned for the Randy Orton stuff.

35:42 Roman Reigns versus Seth freakin Rounds versus CM Punk punk kicks off smack down with a great promo highlighting this journey to the main event WrestleMania Y you deserve the spot. Heyman comes out punk tells him he will reveal the favor later in the evening CM Punk finally catches in on his favor and Paul Heyman will be in his corner at WrestleMania 41 Roman Reigns tells Heyman to tell punk no Heyman refuses it smack down ends with punk laying out reigns. You know one question here we'll talk about doctor before we go over and look at the raw stuff did this make the favor storyline worth it on raw Paul Heyman comes out to cut a promo but is interrupted by Seth Rounds who threatens to take him out for WrestleMania 41. So he does again involve in the match at WrestleMania 41 it doesn't have to choose between Reigns and punk at any point before Rawlins lays out Heyman punk makes the saving they brought until Rollins gets the upper hand by laying punk out with a stop.

36:28 Rawlins teases hitting a stop on Heyman but doesn't do so and it says Heyman now he owes Rawlins a favor back to my original question here doctor trade did this favor storyline now that it's panned out was it worth it. I'm gonna say yes just because of the bias this I have for my love for CM Punk and Paul Heyman like this like you saw this stuff I'm sure you saw the videos from years ago when Paul Heyman told him that someday it'll be in the WrestleMania main event match and he will be there in his corner because that's his dream. So some really good long term storytelling for the favor be called in and in in the confines of K-Fave storyline wrestling taking Heyman away from Roman puts Roman at a disadvantage in this match so it then kind of evens things out.

37:27 So once again like this to me is good triple threat storytelling because punk's kind of the baby face Rawlins is kind of the heal and Roman's kind of in the middle so but you have your Roman fans you have your your punk fans and you have your Wallace fans so this has got a lot of intrigue because you don't know where the audience is going to go you don't know where the story is going to go so it covers a lot of that gray area that we love that that intrigue heading into a match as a triple threat match with your biggest stars and no title on the line so you had to create some other intrigue other than just I'm the best in the world I'm the trouble chief I'm the revolutionary whatever like this adds some extra layers to it to make this even more intriguing matchup at WrestleMania.

38:18 Yeah it's going to be really really wild to see what the crowd reaction is for this one because again three baby faces in a triple threat it's just like the EO Rio Bianca stuff but on a whole not the level because their main eventing their top stars and wrestling for the last 15 20 years and you get the Paul Heyman factor and so I like this layer. And then finally AJ Styles versus Logan Paul carrying cross dresses how much they need AJ Styles to defeat local Paul WrestleMania 41 and how we need the aggressive AJ Styles or WrestleMania 41. AJ challenge cross to a match at the last run before WrestleMania 41 to show cross how you bring the aggression no Logan Paul this week any takeaways on this build up to try.

38:58 Can we can people start giving carrying cross more love I mean I brought up a few weeks ago you agree to me one of the most underrated people on this roster and how he plays into people. But this you're absolutely right like I mean this is kind of like you're playing on some real life stuff and how Logan's. I don't want to use ostracized from the locker room but there is that underlying current of does he deserve this spot does he deserve to be here. You know with his relative short time in pro wrestling so you're playing into that. Carry in is so good this character of kind of being that devil on people shoulder getting into their head heading into big matchups like this is some really good intrigue without Logan Paul being there.

39:48 So I thought it was well done and just once again do we get he'll AJ does that this is does it some way AJ beating up Logan Paul make Logan a baby face because we talked about Logan and Gunther before so like it does add a little bit extra layer into it on a match that probably is. You know one of your opening one or two matches it's down the ladder of entry. So I think we're going to have a lot of fun in the WWE tag team championship for a while we thought it was motor city machine guns DIY pretty deadly low scars as.

40:37 Dr. Shrein match on last week show we could see street profits motor city machine guns versus DIY I'm starting to lean that way as well as motor city machine gun defeats DIY in a number of containers tag team match that sees Chris David using the exposed turnbuckle to pin champa. I expect it to be a freeway match now but wrestle votes I guess they reported on the radio show that the WWE tag team title match may happen on the Smackdown before WrestleMania 41 now Dr. Trey which would be a disappointment because this has been something that's had a lot of legs since the start of the calendar year thoughts here on where they may be going with the WWE tag team championship. Yeah, we've talked about this for a couple of ways which matches will end up on Smackdown versus which will actually end up on Mania as much as I love all three of these tag teams nobody's really caught the fans moja like nobody's really sparked anything out of these three teams so.

41:28 I kind of do expect this to be on Smackdown like people like the street profits but I think they like the fun love and parties street profits more than this version we're getting now I think people love watching motor city machine guns in the ring but their personalities haven't come out yet and gargano and champa are just well liked throughout what respective but what's the end these guys haven't caught fire on the main roster like they were in XC so. Yeah, I kind of think this will end up being like the main event of the Smackdown before WrestleMania. We are predicting live Morgan and Rick Elrod Regus the defend WWE of the tag team championship against the Lyre Val Curian Bailey and it was confirmed on Smackdown this past week that there will be a women's tag team gauntlet match where the winner will take on the champs of WrestleMania 41 so the titles will be on the line in WrestleMania and I'm glad that Liv Morgan is getting on the card.

42:20 Raw and Smackdown stars will be the match Lyre and Bayley Zoe and Shane and Bayzler be Fab and Mishin the secret hervice of Piper Niven and Alba fire Natalia and Maxine DePree and Kate and Carter and Katana chance were announced for the match Lyre did defeat Bayley to retain the ICT title on raw and I'm just wondering how that result may play into this gauntlet match as well so the women's tag team titles will be defended at WrestleMania. WrestleMania, we just don't know against who right now. >> Yeah, were you surprised that you didn't get a little bit of Liv and Raquel out there post match at least to kind of maybe a foreshadow it a little bit for Lyre and Bayley?

43:01 >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I agree. >> Yep. >> I was shocked. >> Because otherwise, by the way, by the way, I honestly thought you said the secret purpose. >> No, for if I got it, I didn't. >> Yeah, I was like the what's it like purpose Ellison is making the comeback? I don't really, that's a deep cut. But yeah, like honestly, I would love to see the secret service win this gauntlet match is because I love everything Chelsea Piper and Alba are doing but it does kind of feel like we're going to get Lyre and Bayley against Liv and Raquel. But that's why I wish they had hedged something on Raul leading into the gauntlet match on SmackDown.

43:41 >> War Raiders and New Day for the World Tag Team Championship is in rumored match that we've been looking at. War Raiders versus New Day was on Raul this past week. It ends in a DQ when I've already used this to chair on Xavier Woods, which leads to New Day beating down the champ's post match when they nearly try to take out Eric, Sergio the Gord Pair and Neck. >> It seemed like that this match was a table center for something more of WrestleMania 41, but I could see it on like Raul or SmackDown this week, Dr. Trey as well. >> Yeah, I don't know if they'll put some of the raw people on the SmackDown before WrestleMania, but once again, like this is, look, you and I have been championing tag team wrestling for better part of this entire run of the show.

44:22 You and I are big tag team wrestling guys. It just feels like right now the only hot act in tag team wrestling on WWE is the New Day. And that's just because people want to move the New Day. Like even the war Raiders, like as much as I love them, the change to kind of like the motorcycle bad ass guys. I like them better when they are doing the Viking gimmick. I know that this is more their New Japan stuff, but I still kind of like the Viking gimmick a little better. It just feels like them being their real selves has kind of fallen flat a little bit, which is why I think this match will either end up on Raul or SmackDown and not on WrestleMania.

45:03 >> And then finally the last rumour in match that we have been talking about was Chelsea Green defending the United States Championship against Selena Vega. Nothing happened this past week, so I think we could take this rumour in match off the list now, Dr. Trey. >> Is it a let down that probably neither of the women's Intercontinental or women's US Championship will be on WrestleMania? >> Well, I think they will be on WrestleMania. It just won't be defending it. >> Just not being defended. Yeah, it is disappointing. Yes. >> I mean, you're kind of sagrified to the Intercontinental title for Liv and Raquel. And that's fine. Liv deserves a big match at WrestleMania. It just does kind of feel like a let down that Chelsea's been a star on SmackDown the entire year.

45:46 I mean, if Chelsea doesn't wrestle with any match, that is really going to be a let down for me. >> I agree with you. I think outside of this card, I think WWE Creative tends to look at the IC US titles for both men and women as like a TV title that is defending on Raul and SmackDown, handing it into a PLA, more than being a PLA. But even if they had done something with, you know, Naya wants a title, like Naya wants a title at WrestleMania. So she all of a sudden jumps in to Chelsea's business. And we were seeing baby face, baby face, other matches. That would be an okay thing for me to see. Hey, let's get Naya and Candace involved in the business of Chelsea and Piper and Alba.

46:28 And they're all entertaining performers. That could be some fun stuff, heading into WrestleMania and they just didn't pull the trigger on it. >> So we went through the new confirmed confirmed rumored matches for the WrestleMania 41 card roundup. This is the last one. We will pre-remember that the entire card on next week's edition of the show. However, Dr. Shri, do you want to ask what has been the best WrestleMania 4-1 match build handing to this final stretch? >> I was going to say Kevin and Randy until Kevin's neck injury. Probably punk Rawlings and Reigns. >> I agree with you. >> Cody Cena's been good, but Cena's absence has brought it down a little bit.

47:10 Jay and Gunther has gotten a lot better than I would probably put Jay and Gunther actually number two. >> Okay. >> Just because I think they've come so far from, I mean, remember this was the first match announced for WrestleMania and it got groans from the Internet community. I think it has kind of grown on people between where it was to where it is now. So I would probably, I think the bill for Gunther and Jay has been better than the bill for Cody and Cena. >> I would say I would agree with you Reigns Rawlings punk, one for me, two. I'm going to go with, I'm going to say Rhodes and Cena still.

47:53 Three Jay Gunther, four probably Tiffany Charlotte based on that segment. Now, here's the thing, here's the question, has the bill for Cena and Rhodes been better than the bill for Gunther and Jay? Or is it just the anticipation puts that match of Rhodes and Cena higher and Gunther and Jay haven't met it yet? >> I think Rhodes and Cena has been better because they've had more impactful segments and less segments that have made a bigger impact than I would say the last two weeks of what Jay and Gunther did. >> Jay and Gunther needed those two weeks.

48:34 >> I think this is where star power comes into it because, yeah, I don't think Cody and Cena, if you had if a non-wrestling fan had watched the end of a elimination chamber. With that beat down of Cody and then you get one physical interaction between them. People be like, that guy got his ass whipped and he's only hit him once since then. Like, why are you not kicking this guy's ass every chance you get? That's been my only knock on this bill is, they beat him down pretty badly and Cody's whole thing has been like, I'm just trying to understand why.

49:19 I'm just trying to understand why. I'm like, beat his ass. They've messed you up pretty bad, dude, and you're just not shalant about it. That's my only knock on that bill. Star power wise, it's got everything you want. I just really haven't enjoyed the build to the physicality that I usually like. I wrestle me like Charlotte Tiffany, I'm ready for them to fight. You know, punk Rollins Ray's, I'm ready for them to fight. Cody Cena for what happened at chamber to where we're at now. I'm like, yeah, it just, it really hasn't felt like it's that physical. It feels more mental and I don't know, I just want to see guys fight at WrestleMania.

50:02 It's all about the build, right? And that's, you know, who do you want to see fight right now? Who I want to see fight right now? Punk Rollins Ray's, Cody Cena, Comter, Jay Tiffany, Charlotte right now. That's, that's kind of where I sit and we'll see how this all looks when we predict it on next week's show and see if that's still the case. I was asking, would Kevin and Randy prior to this announcement, would that have been higher up on your list? I think if I, it would, it would crack the top five. I would say it would probably be higher, higher than Tiffany and Charlotte. I think it was a, it was dragging a little bit.

50:42 Now you kind of understand why? Because Owens was legitimately hurt. Yeah. They didn't interact much. I think if there was a little bit more physicality and they were starting to hype up the punt kick versus the Package Pile driver. Yeah, it felt like, yeah, they were protecting Kevin. It felt like the last couple weeks now that we know what we know. And rightfully so. I think I would have had a third, but once again, that's where the star power comes in, because I think Kevin and Randy are bigger stars than Jay and Gother. Switching gears here now to the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025, they announced three legacy inductees, Dr. Trey. These are all names that we grew up on. Kamala, Dory Funcini, Ivan Koloff.

51:26 In the past, there's been like a mix of ocean names that we may or may not know. We may have seen them in the ring. We may not have seen them in the ring. These are three people that we are familiar with. Kamala, Dory Func, and Ivan Koloff all going to the WWE Hall of Fame Dr. Trey. So the Ivan Koloff, like Kamala is big to me because I grew up on Kamala. That was Mid-South, UWF, into the early days of WWE. The Ivan Koloff one is very, very special to me, because one of my best friends was trained in pro wrestling by Ivan Koloff. The Rockets City's James Lord James Cicero, Jimmy Cicero. I've mentioned it to you in the past. If you remember the APA bar fight, Jimmy Cicero is the ball-headed guy who started the fight with the APA in that building.

52:12 I'm now watching Jimmy Cicero's son, wrestler, Rockets City. So, Ivan Koloff one is very, very special to me because I know how much it means to everybody who was trained by Ivan, how much he meant all of them. I've gotten more, I've been Koloff stories in the last three or four years than I ever thought I would get. Just a wonderful good man. And people forget, like he's the guy who ended Bruno's reign. Like one of the most underrated pro wrestlers of the last 50 years. And it's really good to see him finally get his just desserts going into the Hall of Fame.

52:55 Yeah, you just wish all three guys were here to win this. Great call there by Adam to the class of 2025, Kamal and Dori Fung Senior and Ivan Koloff. And then last year, Dr. Tray, this past Sunday was AW Dynasty. Obviously, we have not been recapt in reviewing the AW paper views at great length. The big news out of there was Swarth Strickland losing the John Moxley, thanks to the young bucks returning. A lot of people really crappin' on it. I thought Swarth was gonna become the AW World Champion. I thought that was the direction they're going. A lot of negative reaction to Moxley retaining. I don't think it affected Dynamite's viewership. I actually think it may have gone up this past week or stayed flat.

53:39 Nonetheless, I haven't watched the show in full yet. I've seen bits and pieces, but I would have loved... I wanted to see Swarth back with the gold. I thought it was a disappointing ending to the show. It seems like a lot of people felt that same way as well. I actually, so I didn't watch a lot, but I went back and watched the whole show. I thought the show itself was pretty good until the main event of... And I had not gone online for people to kind of warn me about the end. It did, it made zero sense. It didn't really help anything out with the storyline.

54:19 I know I use this a lot. It was very early 2000's WCW booking finish for that. Multiple people running in all over the place. And then you get the surprise of the young bucks who have really... They've had what one interaction with Swarth is entire time. And that was the AW elite hell on a cell version match they did. Blood and guts. That's pretty much it. So it didn't make a lot of sense. And the last time we saw the young bucks, they were running from the Death Writers. So, didn't make a lot of sense. Crappy ending. But, I still think they're saving Darby for the one to take the belt off mocks.

55:04 That's kind of where I think everything's in. And I think that was the original plan all along. Then Darby hit by a bus and then climbed a mountain. So, I still think that's what they're... I think they're just waiting to pull that trigger. Yeah, I tend to agree with you as well. We'll wait on Darby to climb a mountain. I love that line. But the young bucks thing didn't make sense. But there are some reports out there that are saying that Jay White was reportedly supposed to turn heel and be the one that potentially cost Swarth the match. And then he had the legitimate injury. Hence why they did call the audible and the young bucks. Which if that is true, that does make sense because the young bucks thing doesn't make sense at all.

55:46 So, I don't know. They did well on Dynamite to play it off by basically saying they did it for Hangman. Because Hangman had said along he didn't want Swarth to win the World title. And then Kenny comes out. No, Kata comes out. This word comes out. So I'm like, okay, at least if that's the audible, then it made a little sense. But just in that moment to close out Dynasty, it made zero sense. And then it just... It did feel... I mean, it felt like a completely audible. And then they're trying to cover their ass on Dynamite. So, because I think they felt... And even Tony Constantin, the press...

56:27 Or in the press cover that he does listen to what the crowd is telling him at times. Because somebody I think asked him directly about the death, writer storyline. And he said he does listen to that stuff. But it felt like, oh crap, we can't go where we wanted to go. We still need a crazy finish to this. Let's do this. And then we can circle back to Hangman with the elite Swarth. Because now I'm thinking we're gonna get the Bucks and Kata versus Omega Swarth and Hangman. Yeah, it's... It seems like Tony's digging his heels in there. Wants this to be very successful storyline. I've never enjoyed it quite honestly.

57:08 And I'm a big Moxley fan, love Claudio. Like Willard, you like Pacala as well. Rainer, Chef Fier, I just haven't seen enough of work to be like. Yeah, I think she's a great female star. But like all those people involved. It's just like this has been very dry. The riddles, the promos are like I tune out out of them. And I just think the storyline is Rainer's course. And I think Tony again, his pull-in-page out of Vance and just kind of let it ride out too much. People want to see Swarth in the main event. They want to see Osprey in the main event. Darby in the main event, Hangman in the main event. Run with those guys. Let Moxley kind of go off a little bit here. So, but he wants to see this come to fruition. And hopefully I'm wrong and he's right at the end of the day. And there's a great payoff because as of right now it's just still kind of limping along.

57:51 So, there you go. So, may you die in a dynasty recap and thoughts from the main event there between Swarth Strickland and John Moxley. With that said, let's close up shop on this week's edition of SRT. You've got a couple plugs and spots out of the way. You can download the show every Thursday or Friday at RueguyRadio.com. WrestleChat net on X and still a real-thousand show. Feed on Apple, Spotify or wherever you download this podcast. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe as the algorithm is king for us. To keep climbing the charts on those podcast platforms. You can follow us individually on X for myself at SRT. You Jeff and for Dr. Shrave Franklin at the Dr. Trey. And of course, don't forget to follow us on X at SRT. You podcast. With that being said, what is going on in the wonderful world of Dr. Franklin this week?

58:32 Well, like Jeff said, you can follow me on X at the Dr. Trey. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook. Just search out Dr. Trey Franklin. When you're on Facebook, be sure to check out Spartan Championship Wrestling. One of the great shows I work with in Alabama. And then most importantly, check out Rockets Championship Wrestling as we are on the road to WrestlingCon 8. Less than a month out, having May 3rd, Hazel Green, Alabama. Like I've mentioned, already announced for the show. Former TNA star Hernandez. Former ECW star Super Crazy. Sam Adonis from CMLL, will be coming in. Sin Vodys coming in. And then we're getting a bunch of the top indie stars, Brick Savage.

59:13 He's returning. Bam, bam, Bundee from Tennessee's returning. We got a bunch of big stars coming in for this show. I am excited for WrestlingCon. So much so you can go on Facebook and find my action figure that GPD helped me create as well. So go check that stuff out. The most important, just go check out your local independent wrestling shows. Go find the top stars of tomorrow today for under $20. It's fantastic. It's family friendly. And most importantly, your kids will be happy. So there you go. Support all the great things that support SRTU. And tune in with us next week folks, because this is the WrestleMania 41 preview and predictions special. This is the pre show you want to listen to.

59:53 It is our Super Bowl professional wrestling. We will pre-been predict every single match or in WrestleMania 41 weekend. Including NXT Standard Deliver. We'll look at the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 as well. And of course in two weeks we'll recap the entire weekend. So thank you for watching. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. I hope you enjoyed the show. Thank you for making this part of your week. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you for making this part of your WrestleMania 41 coverage. And until next week for Dr. Franklin, I am Jeff Peck.