WWE & AEW Crown New World Champions — But Who Made the Smarter Move? | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #856 – 7/9/26

0:00 It's still really a bit damaged in it! [Music] What now we love! Ooh, welcome everybody! Welcome to this week's "Disturder of the Show" episode of "Energy" for July 9th, 2026. Welcome to this week's edition of "SRTU". I am one after the show "I Am Jeff Peck". We joined every single week for my close to one of Dr. Trent Franklin. Dr. Trey, we live in a world where both the WWE and AW World Championships change hand within 48 hours of the same week by friend.

0:44 Yeah, and it's not anybody new. We're kind of going back to the well. It has since with both guys. So both companies promise building younger stars, building new talents. Yet, they're champions, our guys who have been around their company for a very, very, very long time. Yeah, it's been an interesting couple of hours, or excuse me days, I should say. As we sit here record the show on Thursday night, we have a new Undisputed WWE Champion in CM Punk. We have an AW World Champion in Kenny Omega. To be fair, Dr. Trey, I think you and I both felt that Kenny Omega had a good chance of winning the championship this week.

1:28 I don't think any of us had CM Punk on our bingo card as someone that would become the Undisputed WWE Champion as you and I sat here the following week. And maybe that was our fault because like we discussed the Kenny Omega sub last week. We're like, "Oh, if they were doing it in Canada, that would make a ton of sense." You know, we didn't really look to see what town Raw was in. And what did line up that would just happen to be in Chicago. So, yeah, but also the CM Punk being on SmackDown and challenging for that title was on our bingo card, just further down the line. But yeah, that was a completely surprising result.

2:10 The Omega was, I don't want to say surprising. I don't want to say expected. It was somewhere in the middle. "Ha, alright, that's where they're headed." Okay, let's go. Yeah, you know, what was funny is I had a feeling, so obviously new Chicago Raw, all that stuff, and the rumors were, Punk was going to be there. I had known that, but my vibe was Dr. Trey that I really hoped that the CM E's aim would retain against Cody Rhodes on Raw and somehow Punk gets involved and we get set up a match for SummerSlam with, say, the three of them. And that's the storyline moving forward where it felt like they wanted to go to Cody Punk Row. Instead, we get, you know, CM E's aim thrown in there.

2:59 However, I mean, Kudos to WWE, right? I think if you are in any other city, in any other town, in any other state, in the United States, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that result gets heavily booted. I'm a huge CM Punk fan. I'm a huge Sami Zayn fan. We made the case on last week's show that we really wanted to see Sami Zayn hold the Undisputed WWE Championship for a long time, or at least a decent amount of time. Nine days, I don't love the move. It screams old school Vince McMahon booking. It screams from an outsider looking in TKL pushing CM Punk. It screams, you know, the classic transitional champion of Sami Zayn because they don't want Cody to drop the title of the punk.

3:46 They want punk to be champion. This is the best way they do it. And you leverage somebody who is extremely talented, hardworking, and people were so happy, had an opportunity to become the WWE champion in CM Punk. Excuse me in Sammy Zane and then that happens You know, I know a lot of people calling punk a hypocrite in the last couple of days this is you know Revenessing of how punk was booked in 2010 11 when he became World champion and they had to get the title off of him It sucks. It really sucks Again, I never thought I'd be saying that with a CM Punk Rural title rain as a fan of CM Punk but this just It's it's not my favorite style of booking doctor trey. I Would have liked to see in Sammy and Cody play out have punk or come through get involved and Maybe that sets up a triple threat like I just pitched or even fatal for way instead We we get punk is the new undisputed WWE champion and I'm fearful that We're going to summer slam and it's not gonna be punk Sammy Cody It's gonna be punk versus Cody and I'm really intrigued to see how the fans react to this I'm Friday night Smackdown because I think a lot of people were very excited for Sammy's aim So we I don't know how you feel that tray. I may be in the minority this entire thing Based on crowd reactions on Friday nights Smackdown or your all overall thoughts But I truly hope that fans kind of shit on this a little bit I really do because I think Sammy deserved more than a nine day title rain and an opportunity just to be a transitional champion

5:17 Yeah, I mean in part is you and I are you God say my son is named after him so being a huge fantasy of his aim it absolutely Something we've seen him talk about chase for a very very long time What was what was I'm like oh for 13 in world title matches? Oh for 10. Yeah, do that triple threat match Over 10 so I mean it was one thing you're like oh my god The you know it's kind of like Steve Young wins through both I got them the Joe Montana monkey off his bat He got a chance to say he's world champion The nine day part sucks because we are fans of Sammy's aim But if we were to say let's say that wasn't Sammy's aim in that match It was Gunther Cody and Drew McIntyre And Drew McIntyre wins the match and see him punk Shows up nine days later and takes the belt off them. Are we still bitching?

6:23 You know if it was somebody who has already established? Are we still complaining about the booking of that angle and and that's where you kind of go? Is it more the booking or was it just who was involved and for me? I think I'm more pissed because of who was involved in it more than the actual booking of that angle So to speak if it been somebody else who already had to been established as a former world champion or had that credibility or Whatever it was making that a scent from upper mid card to main event I don't know if I be as pissed. I like if it was LA night. I'd still probably be pissed But maybe not as much as I am with Sam But if it was a J. O'Soo Would I be pissed if J was in that triple for a match in E1 and punk takes him out nine days later becomes champion Are we still pissed about it at this point? I guess it would be a pretty relevant question No, I mean you're spot on. I mean has everything to do with who was involved?

7:29 Not the creative. I mean I do feel like probably a decent part of the roster. I would be Still kind of pissed off about that they made this move because I don't What happens with Sammy Zane from this point forward now in the next three to six months is gonna be really really telling it important if he's booked Where he's pissed off rightfully so and he's involved in the summer slam match? I'm I'm in but all the reports are saying that it's penciled in pumpkin roads and if that's the direction they go How do we get there and why is Sammy Zane treated like crap right there is certainly?

8:13 Good that can come out of this for Sammy Zane I mean we saw with punk when his short title reigns happened they eventually turned him heel and he was great It was a good run, but I don't like that Daniel Bryan CM Punk Ray Mysterio Sammy Zane style of booking Where these guys can be throwaway champions in 10 days 20 days 30 days 60 days Just to put over the established talent because we're heading into a big PLA and we need to get that marquee matchup that to me and You know it goes against like everything that I always say on the show where But I think you brought up a great point. It's two things. It's the person. It's the individual involved and it's the creative if I if I look at the individual I'm pissed off with Sammy Zane. I don't think he deserves to be transitional champion I think he deserved a little bit more run with the title than what we've seen But when I look at the creative side of things that that part of me always says Well, let's wait. Let's just see how this plays out and there is part of me that still feels that way But in the knee jerk reaction 72 hours following Monday night Raw Recording this podcast we obviously haven't seen what's going on smack down this weekend and everything moving forward towards Summerslam You know the creative end of it. I would say let's let it breathe and see what happens But the knee jerk is yeah, I'm I'm pissed off. I'm irritated and how Sammy It's funny because how he comes out of this is going to be very very very telling and the crowd reaction the crowd reaction on Smackdown It's gonna be very telling again. I smart move and play by WWE Dr. Shri by putting the title on punk in Chicago

9:47 Yeah, I was gonna say what you know in in theory what I am hoping for is If you remember the Becky Lynch Charlotte Flair were Becky turned on Charlotte and supposedly turned heal but the crowd cheer yeah, yeah If we get something like that. I mean that could launch Sammy into Becky Lynch the man type category level of Fam populace where people go oh crap He really is the last good guy. This is the guy That has been crapped on and crapped on and crapped on and take an advantage of and that's our guy It's a little bit of the Daniel Bryan. Yes movement. You know, it could play off like that if done correctly Otherwise, but if we say Sammy Sliding back into like okay, he's the next guy who's challenging trick again and he's back into the mid cover. We're like That's a Dolph Ziggler run You know, that's like okay. Yeah, okay. You got that you got it on your resume that you were a world champion But in reality, you're just a really good and that we need to help with or yeah, and and that's the thing and that's what what is You know scared about the entire thing, but there is this could be the best worst thing to happen to say Sam insane So far the nights back down is I'm gonna be watching very very closely to see how the punk reaction is How the sammysane reaction is the entire thing how the Cody Rhodes reaction is and then more importantly

11:18 What's this road look like heading in summer slam? I tend to believe the way things that they are going right now They're gonna want to announce the undisputed WWE Championship match sooner rather than later So I would not be shocked by the time we sit here next week We know what that match is because we've got over Brock. We've got Reigns Rollins and we've got Liv and EO. I think they want to get that fourth match in there I don't think this carries over 10 days from now on smack down to have a follow-up of who'll be challenging punk in Minneapolis, Minnesota The other side of this entire thing dr. Trey obviously is the AW world championship changing hands Kenny Omega defeats MJF at beach break, which was a really solid show really enjoyable show great match Clearly Kenny still has it you know, we talked about it last week show The vibes were that we were gonna get a title map. We're gonna get a title change It just felt like the story was bigger for Omega versus Osprey than MJF I do feel like they kind of showed their hand a little bit more and For them to do it so soon from not doing it in Canada the home country of Kenny Omega made me think like okay What's going on with MJF? Is he being pulled off TV for some sort of movie or whatever?

12:30 But really enjoyable match out to Trey and unlike the title change in WWE I know issues with it. I think Osprey Omega all in like that's that's pretty big deal where it this could be the eventual and final torch that Omega once again passes to Osprey He was that's the guy he passed the torch to when he left New Japan and he may be doing it again and all eat wrestling dr. Trey So how far out are we from all in? August 30th, so what are we like five six weeks out? Six weeks so it gives you a time to build up a story like Like on one hand, I'm still in and I think anybody lives to show a long enough knows I I hate Babyface versus babyface matchups You know and right now the deathwriters are kind of babyface Omega's a babyface Ospreys a babyface Who like obviously the London crowd is going to be very very pro-osprey but there's gonna be a lot of Kenny fans in that audience as well I still would have preferred MJF and Osprey just because that London crowd would have booed MJF so heavily Enchured Osprey just the exact opposite that you would have really really great crowd response for that match Now you give me six weeks you factor in the Moxley factor into things like that Maybe you create some different intrigue But you're still gonna have a very pro heavy Osprey crowd

14:03 Cheering them on I guess a very they love Kenny also To me I still like just traditional good versus evil at times on big shows like that because the crowd also helps make the match It's going to be an incredible technical matchup. It's gonna be a five star matchup on average I'm sure Meltzer is just excited beyond the leaves about can I score a seven in this matchup if all things goes planned But the traditionalists in me still would have preferred Osprey MJF Babyface heal we boo MJF we cheer Osprey he wins crowd goes nuts it blows the roof Well, there's no roof on Wembley Stadium, but it shakes it shakes the Raptors So let's let's break it down here Dr. Trace the two big world title changes this week as we've already discussed Which company in your mind made this one move?

15:01 Oh I'll lean a W Because I mean once again Kenny Omega will Osprey you got six weeks to set it up You have the Moxley factor. We don't know like I know MJF tweeted out about knees knee injury and He's in pain and dead at up, but I still Was again traditionally me believes that he would have loved to have been in Wembley Stadium as well in front of that crowd We don't know what the results of the Sammy Zane part of this is And you and I could be here. Are we going that was effing stupid that they did that and now Sammy's You know nowhere to be found So I'm gonna the safe pick to me is AEW made the right call I guess Which title change will look smarter six months from now Let me just preface this by saying Dr. Trace that the vibe is the vibe is at least for me right?

16:02 Kenny Omega is dropping the title to Will Osprey at all and if he holds on to the championship See I'm punk on the other hand because report literally just dropped like a couple of hours ago before you and I You know started recording from Russell votes on their radio show on Fightful Select that the expectation is that punk will get a long Rain because and NBC Universal Watson on the USA network wants a month's back down and Watson with the championship So which title change will look smarter six months or they don't but they so USA they don't like Cody Is that what we're saying? I do think that there's some Cody fatigue, right? I think there's definite I mean that could be a topic for our home other day I think there is rolling fatigue with rains Roads and punk leading the ship right now Yeah I Want to get I guess I'm gonna lean AEW on this one just because You and I have been clamoring for an Osprey title run for almost two years um And it's time to kind of see what he can do with him being the guy the top star. Yeah, it's time to cash out Yeah, can they can they make we got to see I mean is Osprey enough to Pull people in that aren't AEW fans, you know, can he transcend AEW and get more into that pop culture mainstream because AEW doesn't have that guy outside of maybe MJF and then Jericho in the beginning Outside of that they don't have that guy who's kind of transcended outside of the AEW bubble

17:36 Where WWE does a really good job of getting their guys out into the mainstream So that casual fans. Hey, I've heard of punk. I've heard of Rawl. It's I've heard of Roman Reigns Those names are kind of more than mainstream. So it's time to find out can Osprey be that guy or do we need to All's recourse again And then the last question here regards to the big two world championship title changes in WWE and AEW this past week Dr. Trey did WWE put the title on the bigger star while AEW put the title on the better story? um I'll say WWE put the title on the bigger star. I still don't what is the story of the Omega and Osprey?

18:21 So it's um Omega professional rivalry when he was leaving New Japan Basically kind of earmarked Osprey to be the guy on his way out. I mean Osprey was this clean cut baby face He was in chaos. He eventually turns heel Forms United Empire becomes the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and was supposed to be the guy in New Japan until basically AW took about a new Japan and signed them But that was supposed to be the guy that was carrying the torch from from Omega So if the torch was finned out of AJ to Kenny Omega Osprey was supposed to be next But in AEW there is no story yet Well, they don't remember the forbidden door stuff Like that was kind of the no it was the first go around before he was assigned a W talent like Osprey was was basically chasing Kenny Omega. Remember when he was paired up with Don Callis and You know, he was better than Kenny Omega and that was kind of the storyline and then eventually he eventually turns baby face They start tagging with one another. They tagged in Australia for one of the grand slam shows So basically it was you know Ospreys like looked up to Omega Omega's looked at him as the guy that you know takes this part in the throne Basically, but they should do a better job for most people to like explain this all Yeah, and that's and that's what saying because you keep saying this to better story and I'm like as a casual AEW fan You know, I don't know the story so there to me there's not a story yet. It's basically

19:56 And then Osprey cost MJF the title So to me and JF and Osprey still the better story. I don't know if he cost him right He just took the dynamite diamond ring out of there. You know, he still didn't he hit them the heat seeker Yeah, he pinned Kenny because it was a great the low blow the low blow on the heat seeker The title belt the title belt and then that was where Kenny popped out and there was actually a great camera shot of Osprey Like actually it almost looked like legitimately like he was in the moment Um, I think that was like 50% like salad and 50% like this is awesome because that was a great match And then Kenny Omega came back So I it's funny that you bring that up like you wanted the background of the story because I do think there is something to that because not Everybody knows like the new Japan chapter. They may forget the AEW stuff and you know you pointed out before they've got like six seven weeks of programming Now to really build this up if this is the match they stick with right you know, we never know If I believe it is that's where they should really be basically kind of hitting at home like give me the chapters What what is the backstory on this because for me?

21:02 I look at it as the better story because punk has no story like what's punk story right now? We have no idea heading into Friday's Smackdown. Yeah And punk story is going to be a little bit that Cody stuff we saw teased earlier this year when you know When Roman was designing who they were gonna challenge and there's that moment where you know Punks looking at Cody's belt that first was it like right after Right after Mania. Yeah, yeah, so there is a little bit of Easter egg dropping in there as well And then you do have the Sammy Zane factor so it does kind of depend on the direction They go on Smackdown this week as to what the story so that doesn't say it to me as And I hate saying I'm I'm kind of become like a casual though. I don't watch it as intensely as I used to but to me it's like the safe pick for me in this question is WWE picked the bigger start up with the belt on more so and you can say the same thing Maybe in there mine can he's a bigger star than MJF and that's the direction they want to go heading It's all in if they're gonna put somebody new on top No, it's fair. So feel free to chime in. We'd love to hear everybody's thoughts chime in over at patreon.com/srtupodcast Crazy week for title changes. It's you could have forecasted as a big potential on last week's show But here we are too big title chant changes. I certainly did not see CM Punk being our new WWE champion

22:32 And just kind of like peeling it back a little bit creatively. I think you know, Dr. Trey pulling up pretty well Had it not been Sammy involved other people would we like the creative? There's pretty good chance we might have But the way did you like? By the way, did you like the punk intro with the garage door lifting and walking through? I did But I just I just felt like it was too predictable I just love the fact that here's a guy standing outside of garage door and is wrestling here You know what I would have liked more I know right? You know what I would have liked more dr. Trey is I would have liked more Not run the Cody Rhodes injury angle at the start of raw by Gunther, right?

23:14 There's a layer to that could they go the Gunther? Cody are out for some reason. I'm certainly I wouldn't have done that And just left Cody in the match, but have Nick all this say You know I've added somebody I made a phone call and got it approved even though I'm suspended and that's where they add punk in the match Because that everything else just felt like so predictable the whole rest of the show Like I would have done it differently unless unless their angle is to get the punk Cody and Sammy at summer slam true But I would have just had all this come out and say you know what I did not agree that This would be a number one contenders match Cody will get his shot But tonight I have somebody special in no that was a little title match not a number of contenders He had already won the number one contenders Now the match with Cody last smack down. Oh, okay, got you pierce made that one match a number one contenders match I would have all the say I didn't okay that as the general manager smack down look I understand Cody won that match. He'll get his title shot, but tonight Since I'm since I'm back I can make a match. I have somebody in mind for Sammy and then the punk reveal and then you can still save Cody Wanting title shot because he won that number one contenders match Sammy's wanting a rematch because he should have been put in that match and then you can factor You might get a fatal four way of summer. Well, I was just gonna say you I want it just to kind of like wrap this up because if it's like organically gone this direction

24:45 Rank the possibilities of these matches or Right what you think is most likely like three to one there's Cody versus punk Punk versus Cody race me punk versus Sammy triple threat match Sammy Cody punk or fatal four away Sammy Cody punk Gunther. What is the most likely match for summer slam? I'm gonna go Cody and punk because that's the two biggest stars on your brand for summer slim Much like rain's and roll it's on a roll My number two would be Cody punk and Sammy and then Cody punk Sammy and Gunther. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you. I would go the fatal four away three triple threat to one Cody punk because There's reports out that that WWE wants Summer slam to be bigger than WrestleMania. I think they very much realized like that WrestleMania kind of shit the bed a little bit Did not leave up to expectations. So and it's the first two nights Wrestle or summer slam. No, they did Two years ago or last year at Matt life in New Jersey. I thought last year was still I thought last year still the one one No, no, that was the first time they did till don't you remember Cardi B? Come on Such a big Cardi B fan. There are certain things I still I'm still trying to get who sexy red is and has been like a year That's fair. That is very very fair. I have no idea who she is. All right, so switching gears here This is the word beyond the halfway point of the year we usually read around the 4th of July Look at our leading candidates for the 2026 SRT awards

26:20 So dr. Trey let's just kind of run through some of the candidates that we're looking at right now So starting with new story of the year I only have one and that is WWE restructuring contracts of top stars as the new day and shameless who we'll talk about here And just a little bit leave WWE because of the contractual changes and restructuring. I don't Can't think of anything else. Yeah Um Yeah, I'm trying to think because AEW has not really been in the news Maybe TNA is kind of in the same boat as w with the restructuring of their contracts and losing somebody of their towns But that's on a smaller scale as opposed to WWE so losing the new day and shame is two of your long-time Salwards to contract issues Should be number one as it right now Yeah, it's been a weird year for for new stories. It's been pretty quiet, which I guess for wrestling. That's a good thing That's good uh breakout star of the year. I've got three candidates, but the first one is my top one Opafemi will Osprey Jacob Fato Yeah, I'm trying to think if there's anybody else I would move up. I mean can you move trick into that area?

27:29 Yeah, I think you can. I think that's a good one. I mean yeah, it tricks up there I'm trying to think there's nobody really everybody on AEW. I mean Kyle Fletcher we mentioned last year. He's still about the same spot. He's in now um Depending on how far I don't know if you can ever say on Draude but this new like how you know thing Is kind of catching on and I don't know if he can be a breakout star considering his longevity, but I mean maybe he can send to a different level, but that's way to he's like six or seven on my list, but um Yeah, but your top three is basically about what my top three would be as well. Yeah, I would say it's more likely Opafemi is the favorite for that one as of right now. Um Moment of the year I have two samis a winning the World Heavyweight Championship at night of champions Darby Alan win the AW World Championship on dynamite Yeah, and then we'll I mean in once again if we'll Osprey wins it all in that could jump right there I mean depending on the reaction of the crowd everything else samis one for me Darby's two um Trying to think if there's anything else that really jumps out As like oh crap that was amazing or gotten into seals and Right now. It's just it's basically those two Uh event of the year I have WWE night of champions in AW double or nothing right now I have double or nothing in night of champions those are my times. Yeah, I just have a reverse order from you Uh few to the year my candidates MJF versus Darby Alan and Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre

29:01 Uh, see MJF Darby. I mean Oba Brock depending on summer slam goes. Yeah, it's a hell on a sell match or crying out loud. I mean that's that's pretty solid Um, I mean how we got a fake Brock retirement Mm-hmm out of that out of that as well Uh great intro in Italy Yeah, uh Seth and the vision hasn't been great because of the injury even Seth and Braun because of all the injuries and stop start hasn't been great um Trying to think of it uh Even I'll often think this this depending on how far this goes Darby uh Kevin Knight Don Callis family. Okay. I don't mind it Um because I like fused that can kind of like it's still it's a little bit old school superstar against a eel manager's faction You know all I like when Hogan feuds with the Hinen family it'd be Nine guys he viewed with over the course of a year Uh that can keep Darby kind of out of the spotlight for a little bit and You know last or last night on dynamite they tease a little tension between Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher also so It'll be interesting to see how that whole rival refue with now Darby and Andrade against the DCF goes Um match of the year. I have two sammys and Cody Rhodes gone through from night of champions And I'm probably stealing yours El Grande Americana versus original El Grande Americana from triple a nocha de los grandes

30:34 I have those two inter in reverse order and I I really did like the MJF Kenny Omega match. I mean it's it's Behind those two, but I would probably have it three or four on my list. Yeah, that was a great match last I really really fun match uh at uh beach break on that episode of dynamite tag team of the judges have two FTR and Copen Christian FTR Copen Christian Yeah, because I mean as much of that love priest in our truth If there's not a lot going on with that Um the triple a guys the tag titles haven't been really well represented the war This is almost like it's almost yeah, I mean we're not just that but even like psycho clown and pagano um I mean TNA you're back to the hardies again on top So it does kind of feel like it's FTR Copen and then maybe the hardies are decent third Um female rest of the year I just have to live Morgan and tecla Yeah, I'm asked that's my fix. It's basically a two horse race. I mean it just depends what's again if he oh wins at You know summer slam and get to decent run the rest of the year and you throw that on top of her You know queen of the ring win That could kind of catapult her up and at least that that top two top three range as well Uh male rest of the year MJF Cody Rhodes John Moxley are my choices right now MJF Cody

32:05 um Yeah, well I I'm depending on what happens after this week with Sammy Sammy's got a world championship win He's that a strong year, you know um And then once again kind of pencil happens to be Will Osprey Osprey won the olympia If he wins it all in that's a pretty big year also Uh any love for CM Punk or or Roman Reigns in this one Well, I mean you gotta look at punk punk technically see he won at rumble lost at media Didn't really wrestle again until Monday night. So he's really only had Four matches four or five matches this year So in Romans had two So it's kind of like it's hard to throw them in that category with the other guys that had like 15 20 Uh wrestling promotion the year uh my favorite shows a w raw and annexed Yeah, I would say this year, dr. Try but I would say it's a a w's leader I've got a w. I've got triple a second thing because I know you and I know you don't watch but I've had so much fun watching triple a And I'm not and I'm not a there's there's elements of lucha leeway wrestling. I cannot stand I hate what they call the business. I hate lucha passes where the guy is running at you and you sidestep him And you push him on the back and he keeps running. I hate that Because I'm like why would I keep running? Did I saw me coming he moved? I just keep running. I hate that but

33:39 Storyline wise if if undertaker aka mark caloid is in complete control the booking in triple a He's been doing a fantastic job. So I have a w triple a and then New night raw um and then finally srt rest of the year I would say uh for me right now leader in the clubhouse dr. Trays mjf I feel like he's been the guy that's kind of been the driving force for a w this year Yeah, I think everything kind of as revolved around him now it just sucks Just sucks if he's hurt and he's gonna be out for four or five months that'll knock him down You know until he comes back. Wait, is he hurt? I look for someone else Well, I like I said I did see in an interview that he was somehow his knees jacked up Uh, it structurally sound but he needs to rest it He was somehow much pain. He's in at 30. Okay, yeah, I did see that as well So it's kind of like if that's the reason they're kind of giving him a break. Yeah, that makes sense It's for all in if it's a month Yeah, if it's a month and he comes back after all in challenging You know either osprey or Kenny to get back to the top. Yeah, he's probably gonna stay right there the top of our list If he's got to be out for four months To recover or he's recovery and filming a movie Uh, that might dampen that ranking by the end of the year uh But to me it is it's mjf and then everybody else is like a distant second and third like he's kind of clear cut this year so far Yeah, no and and according to our history that if he is too hold and win that award

35:12 Um on the last show of the year he would be the first a w wrestler ever to accomplish that dr. Trey Well, you know, that's weird to say because I would think but then again, we had to roam in in the early 2020s when a w Was kicking off in the bloodline was as last it ever was so it's kind of hard to beat that Never been an a w star ever to win that award s or t rest of the year Uh, we'll find out more we'll find out who wins those awards on thursday december 31st 2026 the last day of the year will be our srt you awards show special uh feel free to chime in over at patreon.com/srtu podcast with your thoughts on some of the leading candidates for our awards that we give out each and every year Moving forward dr. Trey I mentioned this in my new story of the year with some of the restructuring and the cuts While we saw another shocking departure from wwe this past week as uh courted reports Shamus is set to leave wwe they've already moved into the alumni section after rejection Reducting a restructured extension This is according to Sean Ross app from fightful select uh Dave Meltzer added some more college of this saying quote Discussing tko's approach to paying down who are older and perceived as being any downside saying quote the tko thing from talking to people there on Shamus and other situations is that they are very willing to pay really giant money to people who they perceive as the stars Like a sports team but when it's older wrestlers who they perceive as being on their downside and have big contracts

36:43 They're very much like an NFL team that will go Quote rather than pay a guy at a giant salary who's on the downside We would rather spend our resources on somewhaty younger who also we could pay less to end quote when um When I saw this story dr. Trey or oh, sorry, there's still more to this he said Meltzer said so that offered a shameless really doesn't surprise me at all He would be a guy I would expect something like this to happen When I saw this story all I could think of dr. Trey was this reminds me of Sports team where it's like listen. We appreciate everything that you've done you've you've Transcended and bit of mainstay on the team for a long time But we want to move into a different direction to pay a cheaper younger talent that actually may be better than you Right now so um I felt bad. Shamus has been another appreciated guy. I think for a long time in WWE There was a period time. I think a lot of fans hated him and revolted him in the early 2010s But I would say in the last 10 years really since he had that shitty gimmick with uh League of Nations It had his hair in bows dangling off his cheek The appreciation of Shamus has been big and that kind of really all started with the bar with Cesaro Also known as Claudio Casignoli I was sad to see this. I mean not everybody could stay for a long time But the comparisons to a sports team was was I thought spot on dr. Trey It's like Emmett Smith playing on the Arizona card. Yep exactly. It was like you don't you don't remember that but then you're like oh crap that did happen for like a season

38:14 Joe Montana on the chiefs At least Montana got the chief to an A of such a good So hey Brady won the Super War Yeah, it's a nighter. It's like Jerry Rice ended up on the Seahawks For a couple of seasons at the end of his career people kind of forget that you know it's like It that's the nature of sports like when a team looks at you on your downside There's that sense of like there's loyalty like We want to pay you because of everything you've done for us But what are you going to be able to contribute to us going forward to make more money for us and As much as I love Shamus the guy has been pretty beat up and pretty injured the last few years So I understand TKO's vision but as a You know as a guy who's a working Joe I kind of want my company to be loyal to me also at least they extended him an offer To show like hey you're we are willing to keep you around but it's got to be at a reduced rate It's not like TKO where they just ghost people when their contracts are up at the end Yeah, nope very true. I'm sorry not not TKO Tony Conn Tony Conn yeah, that's the big one where yeah, we figure you're going to WWE so we're gonna pull you off television Um, where does Shamus go next and did WWE undervalue a future Hall of Famer in your eyes?

39:34 I don't think they undervalued him because you look at that roster right now and it's so loaded Like where does Shamus slot in realistically right now mid-card problem? I see title I see title range maybe putting over younger talent Well, if you're looking at a guy for an I see title right and look at the you know look at smacked and you got trick Carmelo Ricky Saints You're paying those guys a lot less you look at the roster you got penta and Chad Gable and the luch doors and You know roosef's on a probably a lower end contract as well not as much as you've taken before like You got to pay Shamus in the same range as your paying those guys and if he doesn't want to take that money That's completely up to him. That's that's the beauty of being able to negotiate your contracts You can kind of go out and see where your value is and it and Jeff if he goes out and test the market like any other NFL player baseball player could do and realize oh crap Nobody else is off from me the money that tk. Oh was He could always come back. You know and take that and take that but I don't know like I don't know if you were the same things I did there are some people in a w were like Oh, God another ww guy coming in to take our spots a little bit of pushback there because the roster seems to be Really happy right now I've never heard anything bad about Shamus. So I do kind of think he'll wind up in a w maybe on a Short-term contract maybe to work with Claudio at some point again

41:05 Um, I don't know if you saw that vignette for the brawling birds. I did dynamite Instantly reminded me of Shamus in in Claudio The bar was a great tag team despite losing to a child Which I was there for yep I know your most memorable moment Yeah, it's up there. That was also the oscars streak ended that people forget about um I just think a w is more likely than t and a at this point. So I kind of expect to me at least Sign a short-term deal with a w just to kind of Pay off on I don't say that nostalgia, but every time ww's release somebody that Fans were loyal to they they they make a little bit of a scene about it whether it was our truth Last year the new day this year Shamus now Makes sense for a w to kind of go hey, let's bring you in let's see what you can contribute and we'll kind of play it after the first year Yeah, that's how I'd approach it. I think Shamus is probably more likely t and a bound than a w bound I know that there's been some things that maybe a w would be interested if he went a w I think he would be perfect for the blackpool combat club um Or the tears with the deathwriters with a pock and Claudia Casignoli, but he just streams like t and a got in me to be honest with you the doctor Like I could see him in 90 days or I guess because his contract is So his contract expired, but he must love the non the non-compete so 90 days

42:39 He pops up in t and a and like wins the world championship I think he's more t and a bound than a w bound in my opinion I think it depends if moxley and claw to you go to 20 constate hey you're bringing Shamus over He's bringing Shamus. Well, it's reports is that some people are going to bat for him in a w You know, obviously we don't know if that's true or not And it kind of does feel like at times that mox has cart blanche in a w to kind of do whatever he wants to do So I'm pretty sure if he says hey, let's make room for Shamus. They'll make room for Shamus Is this with t and a with you know everybody requesting their releases? I don't know if there's budget money for a Shamus, but he does have Dolph Sigler and Matt Hardy in his corner for t and a as well So he's got people willing to go to bat for him in both companies So here we go Shamus no longer with w a strange year both new day and Shamus just leaving w because they don't want to restructure their contract definitely new era and Logic of thinking when it comes to their superstars very much like a sports franchise Doctor Trey last thing that I'll bring up here again add it to the chapter of this will make us feel old 30 years ago this week the N.W.O. was formed in Daytona Beach, Florida at Bash the Beach 1996 I always feel like we've talked about this at the 20 25 here we are at 30 Is the N.W.O. still the most influential faction in wrestling history?

44:06 Yes, and by the numbers I learned is did you know how many members were actually in the N.W.O. at one point or another are we counting like Wolfpack and Japan too? Yes, and we count the WWE Yes, I'm gonna say 25 79 what? Yes, 79 people I saw Kirst van Belie actually ran the numbers he was asking Billy Gunn in an interview about influential factions and he was like yes, and Billy Gunn jokingly said 97 in family was like You're actually close just invert those numbers it was 79 people have worn the colors of the N.W.O. at some point in their careers wow So It's really hard to say that the N.W.O. is not the most influential faction just based on those numbers because I think the horseman is like 13 Yeah, the X is only seven. Yeah, I just say it's not many Yeah, so I mean it's it's it's crazy when you actually look at the numbers like just buy the numbers If there were 79 people in the N.W.O. at some point in almost every group since N.W.O. and DX has been some kind of very I mean nexus you could say was a variation of the N.W.O. like all these takeover type factions are basically based off of what the N.W.O. get yeah

45:37 catapult to that 96 to 2001 run of really good wrestling in WCW ECW and WWE Granted in like two years time it was oversaturated the N.W.O. and Companies like WWE were able to adjust and kind of get with the times while WCW was getting left behind and eventually ECW was You know made bankrupt I know a lot of people give credit to ECW and rightfully so For their influence on storylines and like what fans wanted to see but at the N.W.O. to me was the one that really catapulted that and they don't get that much credit because it is WCW Quite frankly and WWE owns the history of WCW But you know that was the first period of time where you had legit real names Kevin Nash Scott Hall. They didn't have some shitty gimmick and they were just like kind of It fit the times they were like a gang of wrestlers that really transcend of the business I will say I mean we talk about creative nowadays Could you imagine if you and I were doing shows back in 96 97 98 and when we recap WCW We could just basically take like the six weeks prior where it said and by the end of the show N.W.O beat up everybody and left Like that could have been six straight weeks of WCW recaps for the podcast so much much easier times I'll say how much would how much fun would have been though the thing we had no real internet true And so we we were still in the k-fave era. Oh my god. Did you see who showed up this week like how cool is it to see

47:09 Like how cool have been to a podcast when Rick Ruud showed up on both Raw and Night Show the same night mind blowing mind blowing I mean that's you know doctor Shren I would have to trade off who was calling the one 900 number from Jm. Oakland each week One 900 909 9900 I could still remember it doctor try I got in a lot of trouble for calling that number. I told you I got beat with the belt The only time my dad ever what me with a belt was for called the WCW hotline Yeah, I did it at my grandma's house. I'm pretty sure it was like 70 bucks. I got a lot of trouble for that one So 9900 talk to me and jm. Oakland. So you got 30 years. Yeah, I can't believe it Kids get your parents kids get your parents permission before you dial that up. No kid ever did So there you go. I can't believe it 30 freaking years doctor try NWOs birth So one of the best t-shirts of all time as well is the new world or I saw plenty of NWO merchandise still That I rock from time to time Would that be inside? Let's close up shop on this week's edition of SRT We'll get a couple plugs and sponsors out of the way you could download the show at patreon.com/srtupodcast And disturb with a show feed on apple spotify wherever you download this podcast Don't forget to rate review and subscribe You could fall us individually on X for myself at SRTU Jeff and for doctor try Franklin at the doctor try and of course Don't forget to follow show on X at SRTU podcast with that being said what is going on the wonderful world of doctor Franklin this week Well like Jeff said you can follow me on X at the doctor try you can find me on instagram and facebook

48:43 Dr. Trey Franklin when you're on Facebook be sure check out rock and city championship wrestling We just had a big show this past Saturday July 4th By the way Maybe the smallest crowd I have ever had we only had about 45 people show but all those people like coming out to wrestling show on July 4th That was awesome But most importantly get out and check out your own local independent wrestling shows See what's going on See who W.B. is going to sign for very very cheap apparently Richard holiday is on their radar. So if you don't know who Richard holiday is now's your chance to get out find him before he signs with W.E. and you can check out rocket cities youtube page rocketcity.com Or youtube.com/rockacitychapishetwrestling So there you go support all the great things that support SRTU each and every week Thank you for downloading the show. Thank you for subscribing Thank you for making us part of your week and until next week for doctor try Franklin I'm Jeff Pack. This has been The Still Relay Show.