WWE SummerSlam Fallout, Brock Lesnar Retires & Did Jon Moxley Save AEW? | The Still Real to Us Show | Episode #860 – 8/6/26

0:00 It's still really a big damage to him! [Music] What now? [Music] Welcome everybody! Welcome to this week's edition of the StoRolda show Observe 860 for August 6, 2026 This is your WWE SummerSlam recap and review edition of SRT News I am one after the show. I am Jeff Peck joined every single week in my co-hosts the lonely Dr. Trey Franklin. Dr. Trey, oh what they can only hear before this show even begins my friend.

0:43 [Laughter] Oh yeah, we've been talking about this for a decade not weathercast. We have never done you and I being die-hard sports. We have never done a sports podcast. I know, yeah. Yeah, it's crazy. But yeah. Which is by the way, one of the weirdest introductions we've done. Like nothing crazy, nothing like Dr. Trey. What would you think about this? No, no. If only the people could hear what we talk about after. Just two old dads talking about baseball and cars and work and say, oh I didn't even tell you, Sammy got lost on the bus today. Oh no. Yeah, he's found. He's found? Yeah, yeah. Like literally, like there was about an hour where we had no idea where he was. Holy cow.

1:27 That is every parents' worst nightmare. It was. Did you do, not a silver alert, amber alert? No, it didn't go that far. It literally like we call, because this is the first year he was riding the bus and the school decided to wait until two days before the school year started to start figuring out the bus routes. Oh, that makes sense. Wait, he's back at school? Yeah, he started. He started today was his first day back. August 6th, folks. I mean, here in the north, it's a different story. Yeah, but he gets out in like May. Yeah, yeah. It's like a college kid. Yeah, but actually the colleges don't start back until next week. Here in Alabama, he's ahead of almost everybody.

2:08 So we didn't. So they were supposed to college yesterday to say, hey, this is the bus he's going to be on. This is what time they run. They never called. So we took Sammy to school this morning. I went to work. Wife went up to school to figure out the bus situation. They get it all sorted out. They let us know what bus he's supposed to be on. What rowdy's on and what time he's going to get home. Well, the wife calls me at 315. She's like, there hasn't been a bus that's come by here yet. I don't know where Sammy is. So she calls. She calls what they she reaches out to what they call the bus barn, which is where all the buses go to park at the end of the day. Yeah, and they have a person overseas it. And she contacts them.

2:48 And so they start looking for buses trying to figure out where he's at. So they actually called the bus driver of the bus that he's assigned to and the guy's driving. He's like, I don't see anybody on my bus right now. I'm actually headed back towards the shop. He goes, give me a few minutes. Like he goes, I'll pull over. I'll do a search of the bus. And but I don't see anybody on here. So sure enough, like another 10 minutes goes by. He gets he's able to get off the road, look. And then they're saying he's just same age just kind of crouched down in his seat and it was half a sleep. And the bus driver didn't know him because he's brand new. Thought he was a different kid than it had already gotten off the bus. And so turns around, calls Megan, let it say no.

3:33 Hey, you know, we're going to bring Sammy back. He's on his way. We'll be there about 15 minutes. She bring-- and then bus pulls up. Door is open. Sammy jumps off the bus smiling. Like what happens? I know the park. Yeah, like no big deal. Like you just had the best old time traveling around. And like when I got home, she goes, you know this is your fault. I said, what do you mean? She was like, no, no, no. She's like, I'm happy he wasn't freaked out. But she goes, you load him up and take him everywhere. Like to North Carolina. And like all these places you guys travel to, he just riding along. He's just going for the ride. He doesn't even know where he's going. He's just so cool. But yeah, for about an hour, I was freaking out.

4:16 I think I cussed out. It's kind of a blur. I think I cussed out. I called the school, nobody-- I called his school at 4, 10 in the afternoon, not a single person picked up. What? Jeez. Yeah. And I'm like, I kind of laid into it. I'm like, yeah, my son was supposed to be-- you guys were supposed to put my son on the bus today. There's been no buses come by my house. Nobody knows where my kid is. How are you guys going to fn fix this situation? Yeah. That's not like-- they lost his backpack, they lost him. Yeah. Yeah, we lost a child. And then it's like-- I mean, it's been three hours. You know the school has still not called me back yet? No. I'm assuming somebody relayed the information to the school. That's why they didn't call back.

4:56 But I also think there are-- I have a reputation at that school that I'm not a violent person, but I will make you feel like the biggest idiot in the world verbally. I mean, we made it-- I made a teacher quit. I made a teacher quit. Yeah. From a tongue lashing I gave her. So yeah. But he is home. He is safe. We actually downloaded a half onto his phone where anytime he gets home and where your mom and dad aren't there yet. His brother's always-- his 19-year-old brother's always here. But he's like, hey, if you get home, you get a lot nervous. Here's a half. Download it. You can call us. You can text us. It's parent-friendly. So it's a really cool little app. So he's been playing on it the last three hours since we got to home and set up.

5:39 Overall, how was your day? He's like, it was great. I loved it. I had fun on the bus. Yeah, I'm sure you did. I'm sure you did. Yeah, well-- It's great to be oblivious. Wow, the life of a parent. We're hard drops in the year's stomach. There you go. The wonderful world of parenting folks. Hopefully for those that are not parents out there, if you're listening to this, this is the trials and tribulations that await. I've not been there yet, but I've had my fair share of what the hell moment is. Makes you want to put an eye tag on your kid. Yeah, absolutely. You have the Apple air tags. You have to go get a bunch of them off of Apple and put them in their crocs or whatever. So there you go. I mean, no easier way to segue into summer slam.

6:20 I don't know. I got lost in this weekend. Sam, you got lost on the bus. I don't even do it. But anyway, definitely summer slam recap and review of this past Saturday and Sunday from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Let's go through the results here. Live Morgan-- a night one. Live Morgan defeats EO Scott. It retained the women's world championship. I'd live Morgan, Dr. EO Sky. LA Knight Solosiko and Royce Keys defeat Jacob Fattu and the Usos. I, Jacob Fattu and the Usos, Dr. trade LA Knight Solosiko and Royce Keys. Gunther defeats Nick Aldis. We both had Gunther, fatal influence. Defeats the Bell twins and Paige. We both had the Bell twins and Paige. CM Punk defeats Cody Rhodes, retain the NSVW E-Champion chip.

7:02 We both had CM Punk and Oba Femi defeats Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match. We both had Oba Femi. We both went four and two. We'll go through some of the full recap here in just a few minutes. But on the onset here, Dr. trade, match of the night event ratings for Summer's Lamp Saturday. I gave it a 4.2 out of five. And my match of the night, I thought it stalled the show, was Live Morgan and EO Sky, which was a tough call, because I really enjoyed CM Punk versus Cody Rhodes as well. Yeah, and then this is where we differed. So I actually did go CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, and partially because of the Randy Orton stuff.

7:43 You know, die hard, long time Randy Orton fans was seeing Randy back. It makes my heart feel good. And it also solves the problem that United talked about last week. How do you have this match finish and have both guys still be baby faces afterwards? And that was a good way to set it up. I actually had it a 4.1. I enjoyed the show. I thought it was very solid. But for me, the big takeaway would be that there wasn't anything that-- I mean, the Oba Brock stuff at the end, like five years from now, will probably be more memorable than it is right now, like the passing of the torch. But not really like a match of the year candidate on this card.

8:23 So it was a solid show, well-built show, well-structured show, but just nothing to them. Like, oh, that was amazing. I can't believe that happened. We will certainly peel through some of these matches here in the big moments and everything that happened afterwards here in just a moment as we go through night, too. Sunday, August the second after tray. This was originally a 1-on-1 match. Sami Zayn versus Finn Balor. But it became a fatal 4-way with Gunther involved and the returning Kevin Owens. Kevin Owens defeats Sami Zayn, Finn Balor, and Gunther in a fatal 4-way match to be the new number one contender to the NSP WWE Championship. Both Dr. Trey and I had Finn Balor, because obviously we didn't know Gunther or Kevin Owens was gonna be in it. Baron Corbin defeats Trick Williams to win the United States Championship.

9:04 We both had Baron Corbin. Chelsea Green defeats Tiffany Straton, Jade Cargill, Shrouda Flare and Lash Legend in a five-woman ladder match to win the Interom WWE Women's Championship. We both had Chelsea Green, Dan Housen defeats Dominic Mysterio in a human monies on a pole match. We both had Dan Housen Chad Gable defeats Penta to win the Intercontinental Championship. We both had Chad Gable. However, we did not have him celebrating with a mug group here afterwards. Roman Reigns defeats Seth Rollins to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. We both had Roman Reigns. Both went five and one on this. We come out of the weekend, Dr. Trey. I'm up 34 and 15 in the PPV prediction record. You are 33 and 16. A vent rating and match of the night. I loved this night of Summer Slam.

9:46 I give it a 4.3 and my match of the night was Roman Reigns versus Seth Rollins. What say you? - So I actually had it higher. I had a 4.4 so I'm a little bit higher. Mainly because I got Kevin Owens of Sammy Zane back in the same ring again. That was my match of the night and that was my field good moment. 17 months away from the ring. God, I missed having Kevin Owens around. In-ring-wise, Roman and Seth was a better in-ring match but I go back into the fields. You put those two guys in the ring and you could damn near put any. You could put Kevin Owens of Sammy Zane in that match with Dan Housen and Dominic and made it human money's on a pole four way match.

10:31 I'd probably have been my match tonight. Just seeing Kevin Owens back got me really happy. And then plus the prospect of a Kevin Owens CM Punk World title feud like on paper on the microphone. That might be mine in Jeff's SRTU Dream scenario. Those two guys going at it. - Absolutely. So there you go. It's so far Summer Slam on the WWE front is the highest rated show for both of us right now, Dr. Trey. Again, I went rains and Rollins, Dr. Trey went the fatal four way to open up the show. From a WWE standpoint, not really shocking here to say that this has probably been their best PLE so far this year. - Yeah, not really surprising.

11:13 And just kind of like, just kind of the show, they're starting to really, I don't say they're starting to invest in Summer Slam but it does have a much better a-off than maybe some years past where Russell mainly kind of outshined it. This kind of felt like the first really solid from beginning to end Summer Slam that we've had in a few years. There really, I mean, you can make jokes about Dan House and Dominic Mysterio and all the mini-housings and everything else and you know, giant head JD and all that but really from top to bottom, just a really, really solid show. And you know, plus I guess getting Kevin Owens back makes me as a wrestling fan super happy. - Yeah, yeah, it was great to see Kevin Owens back in there and then seeing the Seth Rollins.

11:57 - Excuse me, the Kevin Owens, CM Punk match in the future is gonna be a ton of fun. So some talking points coming out of this doctor tray. The first being here, WWE's two world championship pictures now have clear directions. You have Randy Orton return and Coss Cody Rhodes, the NSP WWE Championship, allowing CM Punk to retain and immediately spinning Cody into another major program, opening up the stuff there with him and Orton. Kevin Owens surprises return, surprise return in Fatal Four-Away victory, Stalasimus Punk's next challenger. Roman finally defeated Seth cleanly, but Ellie and I confronted him on RAW, called him a fraud and demanded a title opportunity. Going back to the Punk KO match, does the Punk KO feel? Does Punk KO feel like a major title rivalry or merely a bridge to something bigger?

12:41 - Right now with both guys, kind of being baby faced again, it does kind of feel like a bridge. I don't see unless something drastic happens in KO's size with Sammy. I kind of see this as just, hey, we're doing this match to possibly set up another four-way at some point, you know, or some kind of angle and falling involving Sammy. I mean, as you and I know this, like it's really hard for them to always keep Sammy and Kevin apart. So it just kind of feels, and plus with Kevin coming back from a neck injury, you kind of want him in there with guys he trusts and knows, and you know, that four-way with Finn, he knows Finn for years, he's known Sammy.

13:23 Gunther's kind of the aberration in that. If this spins into a four-way with, you know, Gunther, Sammy, Kevin and Punk at some point, that might be a path, you got Finn Bellar picture. To me, it does like a placeholder for something else, coming out of Somerslam heading into survivor series. - And then which direction is more compelling to you? I think you've already shared this answer. Punk KO with Cody Orren Branching Off, or Roman LA Knight with the Bloodline Stoleuming. - I mean, for me, and this is once again kind of emotional, it's Punk and KO. Like this is kind of, we never got Punk and Stone Cold.

14:05 You know, remember they had teased it years ago and then never happened. This to me from a fandom standpoint of the 2000 generation is kind of like my dream match scenario to watching these two guys go at it. The Roman LA Knight stuff is interesting because, I don't know about you, we've had so many false starts with LA Knight, I just don't see them pulling the trigger now. But the stuff with KO and Punk, and then you have the Sammy, the Finn, the Gunther, like the top of that Smackdown card right now is really, really loaded and they have a lot of different directions they can go with it. - Yeah, it's an interesting time.

14:46 I think this will be bleeding into some of the other stuff that we'll talk about here, but I do, you know, you've kind of already acknowledged that the creative direction with the WWE seems pretty clean, cut, and interesting. There, you've got a looming top of the card that could be really good. And then there's some stuff underneath that's bubbling with the younger stars and they're making it focal that has me excited as well. This could be a pretty strong fall into early winter heading into WrestleMania 43 season before you know, because here we are in August, it's time that they start to think about these things. They basically got one more true quarter left of WWE, the Survivor Series build, and then one Survivor Series has passed, then it's full steam head towards the rumble and WrestleMania where, you know, seats are gonna be planted.

15:37 So really intriguing times coming out of Summer's Lama, it's pretty exciting. Other news and notes here, Dr. Tray W. E. Cron, Oba Femi is its next unstoppable force, Oba defeated Brock in their rubber match and received Brock's public endorsement, but did the underwhelming match? I found this match to be very underwhelming. Did it fully deliver the career-making moment WWE wanted it? And before I get your thoughts on here, I will just say that I heard a different viewpoint on this. It came from Brian Alvarez, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and he said that his thoughts about it was, it was basically underwhelming or lopsided how I determined it that way, because they wanted Oba to look strong, and that Brock put him over a clean, Brock beat the shit out of him, and Oba kicks out, Oba does one fall from Grace Powerbomb, and one, two, three, it's over, and Brock says farewell in the match.

16:27 Where did you, where did you, to me? I felt that was an intriguing point I did not think of in real time. I just felt like it should have gone a little bit longer and the finish was like, oh wow, that's what they're going with. I felt it was a little bit underwhelming, but did you think it delivered that career-making moment that's what we wanted? I don't know if the match itself did, and I totally understand why they booked it that way, because, and this is something you and I've talked about for years now when we do PLEs, and you know, you got Roman Reigns kicking out of six F-5s. Is it really a finisher if you're kicking out of six of them? You know, Cena was notorious for that. You know, we've seen Seth do that. Like, we've seen a lot of the top guys do that over the years. And so when you get a moment like that, whereas like one big move and a guy like Brock Lesnar's going down, you're kind of like, what really?

17:14 I mean, even when Goldberg pinned Lesnar is one spear, you know, and it's like, what, that was the Goldberg with one spear on the feed. What, that's it? Like, they do that to try and make the guy like strong. So I get that. I think the career-defining moment is the post match more than anything else. The literal passing of the torch from Brock to, oh, I think that might be much more the career-defining moment. More so than the hell, like in the, in the, in the long history of the Hell and the Cell matches, this one's not up there. But that moment does kind of stand out much like, you know, WrestleMania 28, you know, when you get Michael's Undertaker, like I don't remember the Undertaker Triple H match, but I remember that moment on the stage with the three of them standing there together.

18:04 And wrestling is more about moments. And I think that moments with Brock and Oba is going to be more defining than anything else. >> Dr. Trey has Oba officially become a main event star or does he still need a World Championship program to complete the transition? >> I, I think you can say he's a main event guy. Like if you said, hey, we're doing Brock and we're doing Oba and, Oba and Roman, as Survivor Series. I think people are gonna buy that. I think if you said we're doing Oba and Gunther, people are buying in. I think a World title run will add to the legacy. And he'll need it at some point to validate his main event status.

18:45 But I think right now on paper, you can go, this guy won King of the Ring already, two-time NXT Champion, just ended Brock Lesnar's career. He's a main event guy. He just needs, he'll need a title run within the next year to kind of validate his standing in the company. >> And then lastly here on Raw, Oba declared that the Beast could finally arrest before sharing an intense stare down with Braun Breaker, is Oba, Braun the biggest fresh rivalry WWE can present right now? >> I don't know about you. I would almost rather see Jacob and Oba. >> Wow. >> Look, I like Braun Breaker. >> But Braun stock has dropped.

19:27 >> A little bit and a lot of us because of the injuries with the vision, that last match was Seth, some things like that, kind of have brought the start on. And Jacob, look, look, four months ago, Jacob was the hottest thing in WWE. Right before Oba came on the scene. But I think Jacob's has dropped a little bit. I think just the contrast of how meticulous and powerful Oba is, versus how frenzied and powerful Jacob is. Is a really cool contrast plus, we've never seen that match. We've seen Oba and Braun in NXT. I think that happened, I'm pretty sure that happened. Maybe it was a fever dream. >> I don't know, but I do think that happened. >> I do think that happened. >> Oba versus Braun in NXT. Did that happen?

20:08 >> Let me check. >> I thought they crossed paths, at least once in NXT. They may have been. >> You may be right. >> Cross paths. But Jacob and Oba have never been in the ring together, at all. And I think to me, that'd be the more intriguing matchup. Plus, especially if you're leading into an Oba Roman feud. Like to me, that's a better fresh storytelling angle. But I also figure like they're holding that up for one of the big four PLEs. So, but the great thing about this is, is if you do Oba and Braun, it's actually Oba versus the vision, which gives Oba obstacles to overcome, which then leads to him still being one of the biggest baby faces in the company.

20:50 >> I don't see anything in NXT where Braun and Oba wrestled. >> I thought. >> I know, I thought so too. >> Who did Braun, so Braun lost to Carmelo? >> Yes. >> And then- >> Oba lost a Tony D. >> But then, so because Braun's a two time NXT champion as well. So he lost to Carmelo the first time. He got it back and then dropped it again before he came to the main roster by camera, but who he dropped it to. >> Yeah, I don't see anything. Yeah, I could have sworn that there was a possibility that, but memory is as good as it used to be as we've discussed. It's interesting that you brought up that you're more interested than Jacob Fattu. And Jacob Fattu over Braun Breaker because I think if we asked you December, January, I think the answer, at least for me, would have been Braun.

21:35 And I haven't seen the season yet. WWE Unreal, the stuff that I've read basically said that the plan was for there was a plan that was thrown out there, I should say, for Braun Breaker to win the Royal Rumble and win the World Heavyweight Championship. Like that is what they wanted to push. And it didn't happen. He didn't win the Rumble, got injured shortly thereafter as you had pointed out. Missed the match with Seth Rollins returning from injury for WrestleMania. That's why they went Seth and Gunther. And then once he got into the Seth Rollins feud, I mean, the last match the blowoff was Seth defeating Braun Breaker clean in the steel cage. Seth goes off to the World Championship. Braun is just kind of like fuddling around with the vision, which is just completely weak due to injuries and is now like a tight team champion with awesome theory.

22:18 And but this could be the this could be the few that that launches Braun Breaker up there. I think the long-term investment for Braun Breaker is worth the investment. So I'm looking at this feud of is the timing right like we're as excited as we are right now. Like if we had Oben now and Braun from January, I think we'd be like, oh shit, this is like a future WrestleMania main event. And I still think it is, but this could be a few that is used to catapult and launch Braun Breaker back to where I believe he should be. weren't they the first two scheduled to be in the rumble didn't Oba come out first and then Braun came out second, they got attacked. You're right about that. Yeah. So Braun got attacked by the mass man and then Oba eliminated him.

23:01 Yep. And the crowd in the crowd, you remember, Oba's in the ring. Crows and then you hear Braun Breaker's music and the crowd got super excited for it. Like the crowd got up and you don't really see that for the first two guys in a rumble. And then they did the injury angle to kind of protect Braun Breaker. You know, from getting eliminated because that was their way of not having him get eliminated in the rumble was taking him out before it started. So it's something they've teased and something they've alluded to is just I do feel like, and it's no fault. I don't outside the injury. I don't really blame Braun Breaker for getting injured. Not just bad luck. It was just it's just been bad timing.

23:41 Now the interesting thing is the Paul Hamen factor in this as well. We like you saw it on raw or bronze calling him Oba's new best friend and all that stuff. And we've seen the Hamen kind of distancing the distancing himself from the vision for the last few weeks. So that is this is this a turn where Paul Hamen real lines with the vision against Oba. Does Paul eventually go with Oba? You know, like that that parts interesting, but it does feel like Braun Breaker's lost a little bit of that luster that was on him. You know earlier this year, but it's not something that he can't regain. It's just we're all waiting for him to break out again.

24:22 And it's just he's been kind of stuck in that vision mud right now. Interesting thoughts. You're on Oba and Braun Breaker. Feel free to chime in over at the Patreon page and the comment section patreon.com/srtupodcast. Last thing I want to talk about here looking back at Somersethalam Dr. Trey was the women's division looks completely different after one weekend. Libertane against EO and one of Saturday's Saturday's best matches. Only to have Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaakor return on RAW and immediately enter the championship picture. Chelsea Green finally received her signature championship moment by Altsmaren in the field and winning the Interim WWE Women's Championship, which was a great book match by the way. Like it felt like she was going to win and then the Mieschen and beef up come down.

25:04 Prevent it from winning. I'm like, ah, there you go. And then as you watch it unfold, you're like, oh, they're going to do a little bait and switch and they did. She climbed the ladder and won it. The Bella Twins attacked Paige after their loss, but Breeze broke in shoulder scapula. Now complicates the direction of that story and Nikki's immediate future. The Bella just cannot catch a break. One gets her after another. It's amazing. I mean, Breeze out basically for the rest of 2026 at this point. I think it's like a three to six month time frame, she said. So with that said, Dr. Trey, which program should take priority? Live Becky Vaakor, Chelsea's Interim title reign or Paige Steakine Revenge against Nikki? I'm more invested in the live Becky Stephanie stuff.

25:49 I mean, we talk about Stephanie Vaakor was the hottest act in wrestling in 2025. And then because of the injuries, we haven't seen her since WrestleMania. Becky Lynch in what, 2021? What was the man, the big thing, the 19th? It was before the pandemic, yeah. Like 19, 18, 19. I mean, arguably the biggest star women's wrestling has produced. We've never seen anybody attain those heights that she has. And then you have Liv Morgan, who's kind of become the standard bearer in the women's division in a lot of ways. So I'm more excited about that one because we saw a little bit of the man come back around Monday night.

26:30 You also got Becky Lynch in there and then the live factor. I was like, I'm really excited. And then plus, you never know when the AJ Lee side will pop back up into this as well. So I mean, that's a really solid top four of that division. And that's not even counting EO who, at any point, could cycle back up. You still got the new version of Lyra Valquiri. So there's a lot of intriguing entry in that top of that raw division, but Liv, Stephanie and Becky, I think that's, I don't want to say past, present and future of the division because none of them are really past their brine. But it's kind of is the evolution of the top of that card over the last eight years.

27:11 If anyone can use a little bit of a bump right now, I think it's Liv Morgan. Liv did not defend the title for 100 days for whatever reason, creative. Was she hurt? I have no idea where they weighed in on 70.cor. Like I'm a huge live Morgan fan. I think she is in line to be in consideration for the female wrestler of the year. And she needs a good solid feud and match that is submits that. I mean, and she really, she said some good moments. But when you look at some matches up until the EO sky stuff on Saturday, it's been a little bit few and far between. And that feud with her and EO, like it had a ton of potential. And they, I felt like they did nothing with it. So I'm with the doctor. I think the Liv Becky Vakor program needs to take priority because that's an exciting program on paper.

27:56 If everybody could be involved and be in there, I think that's going to be a ton of fun because those are some of the top female wrestlers in the world today. So I agree with you. Liv Becky Vakor. Again, feel free to chime in over at the comment section on this page of where the podcast is over at patreon.com/srtupodcast. That's obviously one of the big pieces of news that came out here. This is the second time that she was talking about it. It's like Brett Farve is back in the NFL. Brock Lesnar's retirement did Summerslam deliver the right final chapter for the beast. Brock officially announces retirement on the pack Mac if he show confirming that his element of assault loss to Oba Femme was his final match. The match itself was underwhelming as we've discussed, but Brock lost cleanly embraced Oba and declared him the future.

28:42 Did accomplishing the larger story matter more than delivering a classic match? Yeah, I mean, for the most part, most guys is last match. I mean, outside of the, you know, John C, the top guys, the matches are usually not that great. You know, you can argue, I mean, if you count Shawn Michaels, Rick Flair has Rick Flair's last match. Yeah, there's a motion. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 26, you know, there are moments where the match is fantastic and lives up to the expectation of what a final match would be. But for most part, it's a little bit, you know, kind of the moment of the passing of the torch, I think defines the Brock Lesnar that we've seen.

29:25 Kind of progress over the years. Like, I don't think if you had told me back in was a twem, I'm, you're the history, you're more the historian. Brock came back in what 2007? He came back in 2000 and let me thank you at WrestleMania 28. So that was 2011. So for 12. Okay, so if you told me, yeah, if you told me in 2011 with that opening night with him and John Cena and the brawl and all that stuff, that we would get a Brock Lesnar who is concerned about the future of professional wrestling as he traversed the end of his career. I would have said you're out of your damn mind. Brock was just, you know, in and for the money.

30:06 But I really think over the last couple of years, we've seen a Brock Lesnar who started thinking more about the business and less about himself. And I think that moment at Hell in the Cell or the post Hell in the Cell match, the Summer Slam, kind of defines who this new, who this last incarnation of Brock Lesnar was where he understood what his stature in wrestling meant. And how much it meant to help elevate those people in those feuds with him and make the most of those moments. I think that's kind of a, this is not the Brock Lesnar that wrestled Dean Ambrose. No. There's a different Brock Lesnar that we've seen over the last three, four years kind of help progress these guys along, move them up the ladder and give, you know, whether it's Cody or, you know, Oba now that stamp of approval that, hey, this is, it's almost like the Undertaker stamp like this is one of my guys.

31:00 I believe in this guy. I think he's the right way to go and good for the business. But even, you know, Brock Lesnar Roman Reigns, a couple years ago, Summer Slam, you know, with the, the Forklift spot, you know, like the, the bulldozer spot, whatever that would, bulldozer spot. Like that's a Brock that really had a lot of fun the last few years and really enjoyed working with guys and putting that stamp on him. That's not the same Brock we saw in 2011 and 2012. Where does Brock rank among wrestling's great subtractions after becoming a 10 time world champion winning two Royal Rumbles and ending the Undertaker's wrestle Mania Strick? Top 15. Yeah, I think I don't know if I've put him in top 10.

31:42 No, I don't think so. He's in that, he's in that 11 to 14 range, I would think. And I think a lot of the, like there are moments of Brock Lesnar's career where I'm like, that guy was having fun. Boombox Brock, you know, that, that was a fun time for Brock. Like, but I think what, and even going back to the early run in the early 2000s, you know, the Kurt Angle Brock Lesnar feud, I just saw a clip of when he made a Kurt Angle spit milk all over some pretty girl. Yeah, like there are moments in there where you're like, man, this guy could really be truly the next big mega star and redefine professional wrestling because there's never been an athlete like Brock Lesnar in professional wrestling.

32:24 But the gap in between between when he went to the Vikings, by the way, I may be the comment last week that I really hope they have some Minnesota Viking Brock Lesnar jerseys and I saw them at SummerSlam. So thank you guys for listening to show and figure out a way to monetize my thoughts and not cut me in on it. But that gap of wrestling UFC lessened maybe his impact on this, but if he had wrestled all the way through there, I mean, he probably would have been top five, top eight, you know, but that gap does lessen it. But I don't know if there's ever been somebody that people really thought it was real when Brock Lesnar was doing it more so than Brock Lesnar.

33:10 My favorite Brock Lesnar era was 2002 to 2004 Brock when he left. That was the bet. I think that was the best period of time. And I think if he stuck with professional wrestling during that same time frame, he is an all time great. Maybe I think we look at him top 15 top 20 if he stuck around maybe he's top 10 top five. And I think it really matters to him what he did outside of professional wrestling, trying out in the NFL, being on the practice squad. Not you know, it didn't work, but like that's insane for somebody who had not played in the NFL played football in like five, six, seven, eight years, whatever it was. And then him doing what he did, he had him play, yeah, say he on places junior high. Yeah, for the biking.

33:52 And then for him to go into the UFC as somebody that had no other may background and when the UFC heavyweight championship that run in UFC was like insane and fun and entertaining and historic. When he returned to WWE, there was I feel like there's a lot of downs at times and there were certainly the ups. It was him being the champ. I did not like Brock as champion him going away. I think that really was a bad period of time and they were establishing stars him winning the match of wrestling. So many 30 was like insane and meant in the streak. You know, you point out when he did baby face Brock, that was a lot of fun in the last couple years when he's been back has been good as well.

34:34 But I just look back at that 2002 to 2004 error Brock Lesnar and I there's a lot of good stuff that he did during that time frame. I'm ever going to a Smackdown show at the Hartford Civic Center and it was coming out of Somersetham, 2002 when he lost to the big show. And I watched him F5 the big show onto like an announce table. I remember I could see it still today. And then when he came back in 11 or 12, he came back in 2012 by the way, I screw that up my apologies. I'll see myself out. I made a point to go when he was coming to MSG because he did not do live events when they did that special on the WWE network like live at Madison Square Garden.

35:15 I was there and he took on the big show. I was at money in the bank at the Hartford Civic Center again when he won money the bank and wasn't supposed to be the match. And people complained about it afterwards, but I was in the arena and when his music hit the place went absolutely insane. He's an all-time great for sure. Again, there were certainly some downs that Second Run had some downs when he'd be, you know, just kind of it felt like he was just in it for the money. And then when he was having fun, you were having fun. And again, I love that first time he was in WWE. So yeah, an all-time great Dr. Trey. It already feels like a WWE Hall of Fame induction is inevitable.

35:56 How quickly do we think it should happen? And is there anyone outside of Paul Heyman that should be inducting him? I mean, to me, the only other person would be Kurt Angle. But that's if Paul's inducting somebody else, if Paul has to pull, otherwise it has to be Paul Heyman. The only other backup to me would be Kurt Angle because that rivalry in 2003, 2002, what was it? It was a WrestleMania 22? Did one when he broke his neck? Or did the shooting star press? Oh, that was 19 in the match with the Angle. 19. Yeah. So, I mean, really, that's the same. I think the history, because that was always the comparison. Angle and Brock.

36:43 So that's the only other logical choice to induct him. My question is, do you do a Hall of Fame induction in Saudi Arabia for Brock Lesnar or do you wait till you come back? I don't think he gives a shit. Brock, I don't think he gives a shit. I mean, do they pay the guys to come to come? If Brock's got to leave Manitoba to go to Saudi Arabia just to get inducted into Hall of Fame, I think you got to pay him still pretty good to come do that. It might be a more cost-effective maneuver to wait a year and do it when you're backstage side. It may be. I feel like they're going to go with that. Or maybe he'll be in New York City for the NXT Interpolation. They do the Hall of Fame there. Who knows what they're going to do.

37:32 So we go on all-time great Brock Lesnar hanging him up for the second time this year and there's still reports out there today that basically if Brock wants to come, there was the feeling that Brock is not completely done. Whether that be another match or the Hall of Fame induction, we'll say. He's earned it and he's earned a lot of money during this time. Speaking to Dean Ambrose, Dr. Trius, switching gears to AEW, there was an interesting interview from Daniel Garcia. He had an interview with Fightful where he said John's Moxley saved AEW after AEW lost its fans some goodwill with fans. Garcia acknowledged that AEW reached a period where it lost significance a goodwill and no longer felt like the true alternative to WWE that fans had originally supported.

38:19 Garcia credited Moxley with recognizing the problem taking control and helping turn the company around, although Garcia declined to share the complete story behind what Moxley told him. So as we look at this Dr. Tri, do we look at this and say yes, John Moxley did save AEW and helped regain that goodwill. As has AEW and your mind truly recovered, its lost goodwill merely stabilize its audience or still fail to address the creative consistency that caused fans to disconnect in the first place. I don't know where the credit lies. I don't know if I can go, John Moxley saved AEW. I do think in United talk about a show, when Cody left, the company felt like it had no direction.

39:07 It was a shot that here's where your founding members, founding leaders of this company choosing the competition and leaving an executive VP role whether it was on paper or not to just go be one of the guys at your competitor. We saw it in production, we saw it in the storylines, we saw it in the matches that AEW felt rudderless. And there was, I'm going to use this term because his name is a part of it, there was a paradigm shift, you know, like two years ago in AEW where it kind of went like, oh wow, they're kind of getting the ship right at it does make more sense.

39:49 I don't know if, since I don't know the inner working of that part, if I want to give all the credit to John Moxley, but it does feel like when the death writer storylines started and he became champion, we didn't see the title for a while. But it did kind of course correct the brand into storyline driven moment driven. Yeah, we have great matches, but now there is a direction and a focus in the company. And I know they get a lot of crap for that thing for you over the death writer storyline dragging on maybe longer than they intended, but it did give the company focus. And if that was Moxley's idea and he implemented it and then kind of helped produce and changed the course of the show, then he does the drivel out credit for it because two years ago you and I were wondering, I mean, that's why we don't cut that timeline is why we don't cover AW pay per views as indefinitely as we used to because the show got really, really bad.

40:53 I feel like now it's a much better product. I don't know if they've regained new view or gaining new viewers, but they have right of the ship and it does feel like a much more stable brand to be a fan of right now. Yeah, you know, I do credit Moxley. I think for helping save AW during the time frame about I would say two years ago, but it's not just him. I think he is a well known good leader behind the scenes. The death writer storyline when he was champion, I did not enjoy did not enjoy it at all I call the death ratings. I mean, it was a boring is all hell and Moxley was like making incoherent nonsense with his promos that let's like, what the fuck is he talking about?

41:37 But now I love continental classic John Moxley. There's a little bit more depth to what's going on with John Moxley as a continental champion or the stuff that he's been doing with Will Osprey. I think he played a big role in it. I think he played a big role behind the scenes rallying the troops, but you cannot sit there and dismiss what's worth struggling did. What hangman page did? What Will Osprey is done? What Kenny Omega is done? What Willow Knight and Gail? Chris Stattlander is done. It's just not it's not them what FTR Copen Cage young bucks have done as well. Did do I think that Moxley was the one care in the torch being like, hey, we got a rally and turning around. Absolutely.

42:17 It was a really bad time for AW. I felt like they were like, we were talking about the show like are we ever kind of talk about them anymore. I thought we're going to become a solo WWE show again. Like I was done watching them. You watch Dynamite. Dynamite is a must see that wrestling show right now. Collision. Collision is where I was watching Grand Slam Mexico on Wednesday night. Last night I was like, why are they booking collision like they are dynamite because WWE doesn't book raw and then half-ass books Smackdown. And what I mean by that and I'm sure there's creative jokes that you could say, I'm not saying that you tune into Smackdown and Cody Rhodes is facing some sort of job or young developmental talent.

42:59 And he's still taking on Damien Priest, whatever, right? Like recognizable names. They make sure that their Raw's at Smackdowns are A-shows. That's where a WWE needs to change. Dynamite is an A-plus-plus show. Maybe the best wrestling show on television right now. Collision is maybe the worst, like legitimately the worst. I mean it has good moments. But it's a collisionist Sunday night heat. It's rampage again. I remember rampage was terrible towards the end. I mean it was just like this is a throwaway show. Like what are we doing? They're just taking up time on the turn of networks. So if they were able to fix that, I think A-W's in business that can be a really really stronger alternative to WWE. But with that said, I think what we see, I do think Mox is a play to big role into a Dark Trade.

43:46 How much of a role we'll never know. We're not behind the scenes. It just felt like Moxley was one of the true leaders of A-W during that time. And it's just nice to see an interview where he does get his flowers because you do hear a lot of people say many positive things about Joe Moxley behind the scenes. I mean if he wasn't so such a positive influence in the wrestling community, would they have done that spot at Summerslam with the Reigns and Rollins and then mentioned Dean Ambrose on commentary. Yeah. Like you have to be like at least well respected within the industry to get semi-shouted out on your competitors number two show of the year in the main event match.

44:27 Right? It's kind of the right there. I don't know. Ten years from now, 15 years from now we may get the full story on this. But it felt like I said, it felt like when Cody left, there was no leader. That it was the inmates running the asylum. And Tony Khan, look, for all the knocks we give on Tony Khan, we've given Tony Khan over the last six years. Tony Khan stepped up and took control of his company. And trusted the right people around him whether it was Moxley, whether it was Brian Danielson having a hand in some of the creative and some of the producing whether you know Jericho is kind of out of the picture of that point as well.

45:08 You kind of felt like there was a shift and it matches like are there still flippy Matt flippy moments in matches. Absolutely. You know that's kind of like AW staying on brand, but it felt like there was a concerted voice to kind of give the shows direction again and purpose. And I think that was lacking from that time Cody left about that three year window in the middle there. It felt like that direction was lacking and somebody reestablished it. Yeah, they certainly did and AW it's nice to see them back in there really enjoying their show. And again, it's like if they were just doing dynamite like they are doing collision, it could be completely different sort of I truly feel like.

45:48 Okay, with that said, Dr. Dre, let's close up shop on this week's edition of SRT you and get a couple plugs and sponsors out of the way. You could download the show at patreon.com/srtupodcast and it's still worth a show feed on Apple Spotify or wherever you download this podcast don't forget to rate and subscribe. You could follow us individually on X for myself at SRT you Jeff and for Dr. Dre Franklin at the Dr. Dre. And of course don't forget the follow show on X at SRT you podcast with that being said what is going on the wonderful world of Dr. Dre Franklin this week. Well, like Jeff said you can follow me on X at the Dr. Dre you can find me on Facebook and Instagram Dr. Dre Franklin be sure when you're on Facebook check out Rockets and Championship Wrestling which is at a huge show this past Saturday next show coming up August 15th.

46:37 Also go check out youtube.com/rocketsidichapishabeshoe for all the past episodes you can go on there and see the entire history of Rockets and Championship Wrestling as August in August in this month will actually be the 10th in of the official 10th year since the first wrestling con way back when. Yeah, so just crazy how time flies we were talking about it the show their day was like I was wearing a t-shirt from when I first got into wrestling and I'm like there's not a single person in this locker who knows what this shows in reference to that's how long this show's been going on now. But get out there and support your own local impending wrestling shows. I mean you might find the next John Knoxley when he's.

47:22 Running around with the guy like those like Sammy Calan you might find Sammy Calahan. It's your local independent wrestling show you never know you might see a local independent wrestling show from a guy from WWE who shows up and too much later is in a featured match a summer slam winning a US title you just never know but go out there support local impending wrestling. And if you know a way to legally track your kids other than life we've seen let me know as well. Yeah feel free to chime in over at patreon.com/srtupodcast over in the comment section of this very episode with that said another show in the books summer slam 2026 recap and review and now we are full steam ahead towards AW all in London that'll be wrapping up here at the end of the month.

48:09 Once again thank you to everybody for making us part of your week thank you for downloading thank you for supporting the still real this show spread the word about srt you enjoy the weekend enjoy the summer while you can so and don't lose your kids with that said for Dr. Troy Franklin I am Jeff Pek this has been the still real show.