Has John Cena's PIPEBOMB lit up Night of Champions? Predictions Show

Step into the ring with The Golden Shovel - your ultimate WWE podcast, where bold opinions get buried and hot takes fly off the top rope!

Hosted by 3 Scottish passionate wrestling fans, The Golden Shovel is your weekly dose of unfiltered banter, in-depth analysis, and pure sports entertainment chaos. Whether you're a die-hard member of the WWE Universe or a casual fan looking to catch up, we’ve got you covered with everything from backstage rumors to premium live event breakdowns.

This week we dive into our thoughts on the Night of Champions PLE and who we think is going over, and how the stories will shape up post-show. John Cena's pipebomb really did shake up the wrestling world...but what does it mean for his match this weekend? As well as a deep dive into every other match on the card.

Let us know how you folks at home see it via our fan mail link, or tweet us or comment on Tiktok! All links are in the linktree below.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 10:10 Match Predictions and Booking Decisions
• 18:02 US Title Picture: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa
• 30:37 Queen of the Ring Finals: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
• 43:11 King of the Ring Final: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
• 54:22 Cody's Position in the Championship Picture & Heel turn?
• 1:01:22 John Cena vs Randy Orton

Transcript

SNDRS_404 (00:00.838)
Official Night of Champions predictions and that promo from the Goat John Cena last Friday night. This is the Golden Shovel podcast, the best wrestling podcast recorded in three random bedrooms in the west of Scotland. Let's just get right into it. I am once again, as always, joined by Daz.

And rush.

Ross (00:19.516)
How we doing, folks? It's a pleasure as always to be here.

SNDRS_404 (00:24.67)
It feels like we're these episodes every two weeks. The winter PLEs that he has stuck on for us in 2025. So for anybody that is listening, watching, joining us for the first time, this is our first ever audio episode. If anybody wants to go and enjoy our back catalog, you'll find them over on YouTube at the Golden Shovel. Now, and the link to you will be in the show notes for following us on the usual socials.

Let's know, hang about, we've got six matches. Triple H has blessed us with an extra match for a PLE. For the first match, we're going to go straight to Raw, which is my area of expertise. Rhea versus Rick L, New Raw. So I'm going to come to you first on this one. Forget about the match itself, just now. Does this not feel like the fact that we have two title matches on Friday Night SmackDown with the tied titles and...

the Women's Smackdown title, Women's WB title, that one of them really should be on this card, rather than what appears to be a slightly random throwaway match.

Ross (01:33.454)
It's a thing this week that there's a couple of matches that have sort of appeared out of nowhere and I think you can absolutely say that this is one of them. If we put the actual content of what we're going to see to one side, and I do think it probably will actually be reasonably decent to watch, I fail to understand why native champions does not have an awful lot of champions on it.

To me, I don't know what you guys think, this feels less Knight of Champions and more Crown Jewel. And I don't really understand why they've took that direction. Someone needs to enlighten me on why that's the way that they have went this time. Like, is it as simple as the current situation? We'll not dive too much into the politics and what have you, but is it as simple as what's going on around that bit of the world? I'm not entirely sure.

Daz (02:23.423)
No, I'll be honest, don't think, I'm not necessarily sure she would have ever been on the card, to be honest. I think it's probably been shuffled, they've shuffled the deck because of Liv Morgan's injury, so they are now producing a new story for Roxanne and Raquel, which is good. I think Dom Agee is probably something to do with the current climate. It seems, doesn't appear to be injured, I can't see how he got injured. So that match being

SNDRS_404 (02:26.428)
I would offer up is it as simple as the Saudi paymasters want to see a replay or a card?

Daz (02:53.111)
taken off of the pro, basically make space for one which we'll get to make space for an extra match. And I think that the run time that was probably scheduled for Dom and AJ will probably now be half between Sammy and Karrie and Kross and this Street Fight that we're going to get. It's not a bad replacement. I'm actually really looking forward to it. It's been a while since we've seen Rika work at that level.

with our top talent on our own. So I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll be good match. I'm just always a wee bit cautious when it goes to places like Saudi Arabia about what kind of product will actually be on display. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

SNDRS_404 (03:50.216)
There's a good bit of discourse on Twitter, ex-IWC at the moment, and I actually agree with it. I thought Raquel looked really strong, powering Rhea through the table, which I'm going to talk about in a wee second. But she was in the ring, she ditched that bandana, which doesn't really suit her fit in my opinion. I think there's an opportunity here for her to look really strong over the next few months.

with our ready-made feud we live, ready to go later in the year, when that inevitable return happens now, before we just get into the actual prediction of the match itself.

It's obviously not thrown together, the storyline's been bubbling away and I think you're right, it's a pivot. They need to get to a position where somebody is teaming with Rick Elf for these tag titles and there's a feud ready to go and they do need to get there quickly. That's probably why this has to happen this weekend and maybe it can't wait a week or two. Just one question, but ever since Slim Jims have sponsored these tables, they've been at every show.

Daz (04:49.287)
Ha ha ha.

SNDRS_404 (05:00.318)
Is it just ruin the fact that a table spot is to be something that is nasty, does a feud, it's like, wow, you're really putting this person through a table to make a point. Whereas now it's just, Slim Jim's wanting to tables at least once a week.

Daz (05:04.128)
I mean, I'm not really a first-prior, I've really been a massive lover of Get the Tables. I don't really think it adds much, especially given that comes with a whole chess slap and crowd interaction. Nobody's shouting Get the Slim Jim Tables, do you what mean? Plus they work the commentary disc every week. Every week somebody gets dumped on top of it. So it's not like...

Ross (05:22.225)
unless it was Devon who was asked to get the tables.

SNDRS_404 (05:25.49)
Yes.

Daz (05:31.604)
if they didn't have the Slim Jim tables out every week that we wouldn't see someone potentially going through some sort of table. I like what you picked up on though about the tag titles. There's clearly an angle brewing on my home show for those tag titles as well. And I'm actually looking forward to the new angle for the tag titles. I don't know if this has just been sped up because I live in Zinjury. It's going to be Roxanne, surely.

SNDRS_404 (05:33.458)
Hmm, yet yet.

SNDRS_404 (05:37.915)
no.

SNDRS_404 (05:58.206)
Yes.

Daz (06:02.091)
especially when we have been dumped out of Queen of the Ring.

SNDRS_404 (06:09.534)
You would think, and I'm not gonna say too much on that, because it's gonna be my actual prediction in a wee second, which may or may not give a little bit of a spoiler away. Ross, just before we do get to those predictions, we've talked a little bit about this in the last few weeks, and again, we'll plug the YouTube. Does Triple H know how to book Rhea Ripley when she's not world champion?

Ross (06:38.063)
guess we might find out. I mean we might.

SNDRS_404 (06:40.572)
mean, she does deserve to be that level all the time. We are, we are Ripley Stans.

Ross (06:43.861)
yeah. And everyone who's in every arena she's been in the past few weeks is absolutely in the same boat. No, I think there are a few people where he does have a bit of a blind spot. Gunther being another one, where if there's no strap, there's a problem. But as you say, is it going to be a problem when she just should always have a belt around her waist anyway and therefore why even think about it? I don't know. But it's odd, isn't it?

SNDRS_404 (06:51.346)
No, no.

Ross (07:12.977)
That's a very strange one.

SNDRS_404 (07:13.406)
Yeah, I think we'll just stay here until this match goes to prediction stage and I'll throw myself in there first since it's a raw match. I think that Via Ripley is about to go on a generational run because she's going to go on that Perth show later in the year, which is cringey for some reason. Perhaps we'll just try and remind the Australians of their colonising overlords.

Ross (07:39.855)
You

SNDRS_404 (07:42.27)
This is probably the last stage of the year where I think she can get away with a loss. think just how strong Raquel did look last night. Let's not waste that. think Roxanne gets involved. I think the T's them getting along. I Roxanne gets involved as a street fighter. There's no DQ's and Raquel's gonna go over in my prediction. Does.

Daz (07:58.769)
I say I totally agree. I can almost see it going one way.

It's interesting, the chat about Rhea and how to book her when she's no world champion. It's one thing to be able to try and book her to win. Trying to book someone else to go over, especially Raquel Rodriguez, is a big ask, especially in Saudi Arabia because money talks and what the Saudis want to happen is most likely what will happen. But I do agree, think Roxanne gets involved. There was a wee embrace.

between the two at the end of the segment, Monday night. Definitely looks like a bit of chemistry building there. So for me, think Roxanne interferes and Raquel goes over.

SNDRS_404 (08:44.552)
Yeah, definitely. Yep.

SNDRS_404 (08:56.317)
Ross?

Ross (08:57.457)
I know, I think that some of the things we picked up on is kind of where my head was going and it's not then where you two guys have ended up. I'm not being contrarian. I figured, you know, it's in Saudi, as you say, money talks. I figured Rhea was just a lock for this and will just win. I think it could be a really, really good match. But I think as well, I mean, I even think about the generational run. You're right, I think she will go on one. And what a better way to start.

a summer of PLE after PLE after PLE than half or one and yeah genuinely I think Rear may go over you know I really do.

SNDRS_404 (09:34.718)
I think I would have agreed until last night. But also, I think if Rhea does go over that is the end of Women's Tag Titles. You'd be as well just ending them right there. They have to, because they should either strip Rickey, I love them, or she has to look strong. Anything else, they're bi. So we've got a nice... Ah, exactly.

Ross (09:38.625)
This one makes me doubt myself a little. I will agree, but...

Daz (09:46.793)
It's all built in the head of the movement, it's interesting because you don't want to build the team of Roxanne and Raquel, but have Raquel lose because especially the two that are going to be paired up with, one of them is arguably the biggest name in women's wrestling.

Ross (09:56.753)
Let's go.

Daz (10:07.06)
She needs to look strong and into that feud, if that's the way they're go.

SNDRS_404 (10:10.035)
Too close.

SNDRS_404 (10:23.417)
100%. We might touch on that if we've got time. If not, I would advise everybody to check back in next week and we'll see what that food develops. Now, this is just a, I will shamelessly plug another social suit this episode, because this is our first ever audio recording, so...

If you questions or have questions about the show,

The other thing we do here every week as we award the Golden Shovel Award which is the Titchalot Podcast Title Award which we essentially give to the booking decision that lays us scratch on our heads that we either disagree with or just doesn't make any sense. Speaking of generational ruins that's currently sitting with the Women's Title picture and has been for about what feels like four months of a three month podcast. If you want to go back and see how we manage that go and check out the YouTube channel, like I said linked to you within show notes and you'll find us on TikTok and YouTube over there.

Ross (11:17.156)
You

Ross (11:26.065)
And obviously if you're on YouTube and you're like, whoa, audio, what are you talking about? Go to wherever you find your podcasts. You can find us there as well.

SNDRS_404 (11:26.588)
Much love.

Daz (11:31.489)
Tell your mum, tell your sister, tell your dad, tell your brother, tell your dog. Tell everybody if you go to school, tell everybody at school, you go to work, bowl the tits off them at work.

SNDRS_404 (11:32.744)
Yes. Feel free to subscribe on YouTube and then listen to us as well in the car on the way to work and five star reviews and whatever else.

Ross (11:37.753)
yeah, double done, absolutely.

SNDRS_404 (11:51.798)
Aye. And if you're going to watch us shout Alexa, play the Golden Trouble podcast, then leave. It counts. It counts. Match number two is also coming from Raw. It's Sammy versus Kross, carrying Kross. Now, I'm a little bit confused by this match. I'm not gonna lie. It feels as though it's been building, it's been building, it's been building, and come Monday they've went, shit, we need a match.

Ross (11:52.721)
you

Ross (11:56.146)
Exactly.

Ross (12:18.225)
Yeah

SNDRS_404 (12:19.74)
I'm not looking forward to this match at all because I feel as though can only end one way which we'll get to. The storyline has intrigued me, it's just how quickly it's came together and it's clearly came together because of Dom Agee being pulled from the card. At least in my opinion that's what I'm saying. Although I guess on the flip side there was no way that Sammy wasn't going to win this card. Well I guess talk me through your thoughts because all we've been getting is about

Ross (12:36.249)
Yes.

SNDRS_404 (12:49.53)
Even some these backstage segment staffs have been happening during the US commercial break so unless we're watching it live on Netflix in UK we're actually not seeing them in the replays and we're seeing them on usually www.dowdowee.com or dowdowee's Twitter page.

Ross (12:58.286)
Mmm, wow.

I did not know that that is even more bizarre yet. That leaves my head scratching even further because you have obviously the situation that we saw where they booked the match and he's like, haha, I got my plan all along. And you're like, but what plan? What on earth are you talking about? I have no context for what's happened previously. That is very strange. I think you're right. It's a half panic, half a, wait.

Daz (13:27.816)
You

Ross (13:29.981)
Shit, we haven't had Poosami Sane on this card in a couple of days away. Yeah, it's a real shame because obviously there's been a big swell from the fan base to see Carrion Cross back in the ring. There are a lot of people who are really, really behind him for reasons. And to do it like this doesn't seem right. It just doesn't, I don't know. I don't know about you, Daz. This just doesn't feel right.

Daz (13:45.97)
Yeah, I'm not necessarily someone who's on the Carrying Cross hype train. His in-ring work is uninspiring. I've heard he's got better on Main Event recently, but again, how high is the bar on Main Event? I would have thought with his popularity, because he is over, whether we like it or not.

I thought if you were going to reintroduce him to Ringwork it would have maybe been through your home brand Ross on developmental for a bit. But again, he's getting to that age where that run could finish him. So as I said on last week's pod, I didn't think this match would actually happen. I didn't think we would ever get to this point where this match needs to happen. I agree with you Saunders, it's yourself Ross. They've rushed us. The promo on Monday night felt like it should have been three, four weeks away.

Ross (14:21.83)
Boo yeah.

Daz (14:33.594)
where Sammy punches him in the face and they get their match. And it showed how rushed it was that during the segment, it didn't even tell you when the match was. You had to wait for some graphic later in the show to tell you it was Night of Champions. It just said that Adam Pearce has made it official. But when? When are we getting it? And then the announcement's on the card. I do agree, Sammy was probably going to be on this card in some capacity, whether it was even just to do the attendance.

SNDRS_404 (14:45.426)
Yep.

Ross (14:52.131)
Yeah, that's a fair point actually.

Daz (15:03.438)
or something like that, was always going to be there. He was always going to be in Saudi because it's a tap-in. They've sped this food up and I think it's going to be the worst possible outcome for Karrion Kross because he's over in terms of IWC and people like him. But I'm not sure that the hardcore element that followed the product are too familiar with what he's going to bring to the table and Sammy just ate the pint of Andy Orton and Karrion really going to go over.

SNDRS_404 (15:43.006)
Do you to just dive straight into prediction, Daz? Because I think that's the stage. There's not much more to say about this match and I'm very aware that I'm watching myself nodding agreement with you. for the audio listeners, I have been nodding to what Daz has been saying. I will learn how to make a noise when I'm nodding next week. But I can sense your prediction. You basically said it, Daz. What you going for?

Daz (15:55.366)
I think Sami's going to look strong in it in Saudi Arabia, that's probably the booking. And I do think it will set Cary and Cross back in terms of TV matches, etc. I can't see this feud going beyond. Is it even going to make SummerSlam? I mean, would you be happy to see Sami Zayn versus Cary and Cross on SummerSlam? It is a two-night event, so it possibly could, but...

Ross (15:56.53)
Mmm, yes.

Daz (16:24.208)
For me, Sammy wins and we'll just shake hands and move on.

Ross (16:26.255)
I do.

SNDRS_404 (16:26.952)
Too fast.

No.

Ross (16:38.491)
See if you could take Daz's opinion and then just for the audio listeners at home, put my glasses on Daz and then just say that. Yeah, there's nothing else I can add there. Not really sure what the point is. If this goes past 12 minutes, I'll actually be a little bit annoyed. Just give it to Sammy and move on. Easy.

SNDRS_404 (16:59.761)
I actually feel a little different about this match. Only because, only because the only way that it can last beyond Saturday is for Sammy not to win. But I also don't think Crosscom won. This is one the ones where we talked about it at the backlash where we said there's five matches and we could have five screwy finishes and we had five screwy finishes.

Ross (17:15.377)
Okay.

SNDRS_404 (17:21.85)
I just think either Sammy wins and then Kross beats him down or it ends like a no contest if beat down. I'm going to go with Sammy winning just because it isn't Saudi. I don't think it's... If they have this match and move on, I will be sitting here next week going, what was the complete point in that? I want to shovel this week, that's who I know.

Ross (17:26.257)
Mm-hmm.

Daz (17:32.84)
Bye, thank you.

Ross (17:40.153)
I feel like we'll be shoveling it next week if that's the case.

Ross (17:46.289)
You

SNDRS_404 (17:46.622)
The build's been there for so long and it's like right, clearly they're gonna do nothing with Cross, unless they do turn Sammy heel and Cross ends up managing them but I just think Sammy gets over in Saudi and maybe we get a beat down after it is probably about as much as I can say from at least having a story.

Ross (18:02.489)
Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's my BF.

SNDRS_404 (18:04.328)
So, a 3-0 whitewash. Match number three. At least, at the time of recording, I don't think the run order has been released, so I'm just going through them in an order that makes sense for us. Daz, we're coming over to your home show. US title picture. Jacob, Fatu versus Solo, Sequoia. I'll just say that I actually feel slightly uninspired now that they've pulled the trigger on this one.

Daz (18:22.853)
Yeah, I I did say this on the show where we broke down Money in the Bank. It was the right break up at the wrong time. It didn't make sense for that to happen then. I think this match is much more intriguing if it's the US champ versus Mr. Money in the Bank. If you listen to the show, you know I touted Solo, won the briefcase.

SNDRS_404 (18:42.515)
Yep.

Daz (18:46.775)
Again, we spoke as kind of similar to you talk about, as realistically neither of these guys can win clean because this feud's got legs and that's the good thing about this feud is that I'm not entirely excited about this particular match but I am excited about where this feud will go because there's a number of different avenues that open up because you've obviously got JT, JC Matteo if that is his real name, you've got Jimmy so...

Ross (18:50.783)
yeah.

SNDRS_404 (18:53.118)
100%.

Daz (19:15.811)
You've got, I won't upset Kevin Owens by telling you who they are, but you've got them. I don't know if any have seen Randy Orton at Fanatics Fest, bumped into Zilla Fatu, says I'll see you soon. There's loads of avenues that this story can go on. I'm really looking forward to that, to be honest. I just feel like it's... the TV promos have been good with these two. I'm interested to see what the in-ring chemistry is like.

because in theory it would be good but they're two very similar bouts to similar type wrestlers obviously Fatu is a bit of, to quote Ross's favourite phrase, a bit of chaos so I think they'll put on a good show I just don't think the story's developed enough yet for me to be totally bought in on what they're trying to achieve

Ross (19:55.536)
Yeah.

Ross (20:07.978)
yeah.

SNDRS_404 (20:17.326)
That's I was trying to get at. feels like they've bubbled the story away in the background and it's been there for so long and a bit like the match we've just discussed. fact, a bit like the first two matches, they've just pulled the trigger a week before. And I don't think their segments last Friday really furthered the food or captured the food. It just felt like it was a segment because they had to be on a segment together.

Ross, you have enjoyed the US title picture this year because of a bit of chaos. It sounds like, it looks like for this period of time it's going to be a little bit more stable. Again, without giving away too much of your predictions, this kind of feels like no matter what happens, bell to bell, there's only one person walking out with that title if this is going to go beyond one match, surely.

Ross (20:45.777)
It's been great.

Ross (21:07.213)
Yeah, I would think so. I can't really see how... I can't really see too many avenues they can take if it isn't going to... if it's not ending on Saturday. That there's not much else you can really do. Just going by the age-old rule, usually, of... Heels lose feuds. Does make you think they're kinda slightly... they're slightly cornered in what they can do?

I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong thinking that but

SNDRS_404 (21:40.146)
I mean, we said, and I had in my notes every week from WrestleMania leading up to Money in the Bank, saying, look, literally, I really hope Solo doesn't get lost in this shuffle. And I felt like the two weeks leading up to Money in the Bank, they really recovered them.

to the point where when Daz predicted I'm going win, I wasn't sitting here going, be silly, which I would have been two weeks before. was sitting there going, you know what, I can see the story, the story is there. My worry is that Jacob Fatu is on this path to superstardom, he's on the path to the better event. Solo was there.

Ross (21:57.692)
Back to you.

Ross (22:05.156)
Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (22:19.634)
I don't think this should end on Saturday night. don't think Fatou can drop the title, which again I'm starting to spoil where we might be going with this. But that is, again, how we're sitting here questioning ourselves is how do they protect both these guys in this food? Because this is probably going to go to, this is one that should go to SummerSlam.

Daz (22:30.806)
I will go to Summer Slam. I definitely will.

Daz (22:38.179)
I'll be honest, this for me is going to go one of two ways because if Fatu pins Solo clean Solo's not a contender at that point.

Ross (22:40.774)
should.

SNDRS_404 (22:42.642)
But how you gonna protect it to a guy's for two months, two and a half months?

Daz (22:54.175)
So that for me writes off that as an option because this will be part of the 2 night Summer Slam, it definitely will because as I say this food does have the legs to go. It either ends with a DQ and JC Matteo probably or and I'm gonna go bold, people probably think that I'm gonna be Mr Solo Sikoa this year.

SNDRS_404 (23:01.394)
Yeah, exactly. That's my worry.

Daz (23:21.514)
I actually think Solo's going to win the title. I think Solo picks the title up. And the only reason I think he picks the title up because this feud gains so much more legs if Fatu chases Solo instead of Solo chasing Fatu. I don't believe Fatu needs the title. He's a bit like Elliot, he doesn't need a belt. Everybody loves him for what he is. I don't think he needs the belt and I think that...

Ross (23:30.648)
See ya. See ya.

I like it.

Daz (23:48.716)
J.S. Solo will be a much better champion in this feud than Fatu will be. The promo is just the look that Solo carries, the presence. He's almost got the aura like Reigns did. I just think that Solo suits this feud better as champion. Whether or not it ends with him as champion is a different story. But I think we're going to give this legs.

Ross (24:11.943)
yeah, he does.

SNDRS_404 (24:12.894)
Alright.

SNDRS_404 (24:21.18)
So that's what going to ask you, if Solo does take it this weekend, does that not mean that ultimately it would be Fatu coming out of SummerSlam with it? Whereas, if you find a way not to have the title change this weekend, at least there's still intrigue come SummerSlam that either one could walk out.

Daz (24:33.451)
But then does Fatou need to win at SummerSlam or can you push him into the main event picture?

SNDRS_404 (24:49.342)
So I think Fatu is gonna drop out of Islam Islam and move on to other feuds. Because I think he's one of these guys, Ross, we've talked about this a lot in the last few months, people who have talked about Tiffany Stratton, who have done a really good job as the chaser. They've done a good job being chased.

Now we need to see something else and that's something came from Fatu. He's been on this path of new guy straight to title picture, US title, he's always gonna win it. And I'm in agreement with Daz that he doesn't need the title but what he needs is to be able to show that he can do something else and that is can he carry a feud with someone who isn't out with the US title picture. So we talked about guys, we talked about guys like Rollins.

Drew Matantyre, Kevin Owens as well, Roman's the same, Punk. There don't need to be a title picture to have the best feud, have the best matches on a show. So is that what we want to see from Jacob Fatu, see between now and WrestleMania, thinking that 2026 to 2027 might be his years?

Ross (25:49.073)
That's true.

Ross (25:58.942)
I think that's a reasonable argument that you could make. My counter to it would be, is it too early from say Summer Slam to then push him into that? When you think about then, where would he then go in that main event picture and does it make sense for who's in the main event picture right now to push him into that?

Daz (26:06.689)
Can I tell you where I think the perfect... And this is for anybody listening on audio for the first time, that's the We Love The Fantasy book. that is why I think that he's going to move on. I think Solo wins the title on Saturday because I think what we'll likely get as a survivor series is Team Rollins versus Team Reigns is what I think we're likely to get. And I think Fatou rips the bill perfectly.

SNDRS_404 (26:20.646)
Yes, 100%.

Ross (26:26.481)
me hear it.

Daz (26:35.785)
And I think Fatou and either of the bronze, to be honest, going to be really, really good. So that's where I think the story goes. That's about fantasy booking for anybody who's listening.

Ross (26:42.222)
Okay.

I think that's a good show.

SNDRS_404 (26:56.264)
Alright.

Ross (27:00.987)
Don't dislike them.

SNDRS_404 (27:01.106)
I'm glad you mentioned that, that's just to reiterate again for the people that are listening for the first time, we love our fantasy booking, but we do try and fantasy book with a little bit of reality. We will suspend belief within the confines of the WWE Universe as long as it makes sense in wrestling space. Anything goes. I think you're right. think team...

Team Reigns, if that's the way they go, needs that enforcer type person, and needs to be the face, it's probably Jacob. I think that's a great shout. Ross, do you want to grace us with your prediction then, since Daz is team solo?

Ross (27:38.354)
Yeah, I thought that coming into this I was actually going to be potentially on my own, but I do like that it's not just me that thinks this. I am the same as you, that if they're, the logically it just makes sense, you know, I'm team Daz on this one. I think if they're going to, if they're going to pull this trigger a little too early, which we all think they have, the only way for this to continue on is solo stands tall. Now, he doesn't necessarily need to win clean. He's a heel.

We know how this works when you've got a JC Mateo kicking about who I will say I'm slowly starting to warm to the character that he's got even if if we saw SmackDown on Friday night he has an uneven handlebar mustache. Go and watch that footage back. It's very very funny to look at. Yeah no absolutely I'm solo here. I think solo takes us. Where it goes from here past SummerSlam I'm not going to speculate but here and now I think him.

SNDRS_404 (28:35.262)
I guess I'm on them. And the reason that I did ultimately side with Sammy in the last match with the post-match beat down from Carrion Cross is I don't think this has a finish. I think this is Jacey Mathieu getting involved, the referee's down. I think Fatou puts Solo through the ringside barricade where I run and have a tack. And I think Matteo takes it.

Ross (28:36.901)
Think so, you may be.

Daz (28:53.13)
Slug jam table.

SNDRS_404 (29:04.894)
I think Matteo takes it far too and I'm gonna go double, double count out. I just think that this is how they'll keep it going. think Solo will go over in the feud. I'll only save Solo for taking it maybe at SummerSlam, but I think double count out slash DQ, I think it's one of those finishes. But I'm saying...

Ross (29:12.084)
okay.

Daz (29:13.438)
of all countenance. As of 2007.

SNDRS_404 (29:27.23)
I'm saying explicitly, I'm not saying I'm saying explicitly with Fatou doing the one hip attack through the barricade and then Mateo takes it out on him. So I'm not just, I'm not gonna sit on the fence, I'm being specific with predictions saying that's how I think it's gonna go. I just think, I agree, I the need to protect Solo, think Solo has to go over because he's kinda been not stuck.

Ross (29:34.789)
Someone write that down. Someone write that down.

SNDRS_404 (29:50.376)
But the bloodline story's disappeared and he's still there. And I think this is the great way to split them up. And also means that could, could be in Team Rollins, and Fatal could be in Team Reigns, and there's still a story there. It's a survivor series for Wargames. So, aye, I'm not, it sounds like I'm sitting on fence, I'm not. I just think that Triple H loves a non-clean finish, as we have seen multiple times. And.

Ross (30:17.637)
Yeah, he does have a bit of a penchant for that.

SNDRS_404 (30:20.242)
That's where I'm Yeah. And we appear to have lost that as... which...

Ross (30:25.359)
So write down 30.

Ross (30:30.161)
20 was roughly where it disappeared. I'll scribble that down. We can go edit that.

SNDRS_404 (30:35.198)
Oh, and he's No, sorry. I've marked it anyway. It's fine, we lost him. fine, we can figure that out. Aye, I worked it pretty well. Ross, I'd like you to kick off match number four. And that is the Queen of the Ring Finals. Asuka versus Jade Cardgill. Now, I'm finding this particularly interesting because...

Daz (30:37.18)
Don't Carry on.

Ross (30:39.793)
So.

We got to the end of our segment, so it's cool.

SNDRS_404 (31:02.586)
Aska's came back and she's been booked pretty strong, which I think is the right thing to do. I think that we've talked for weeks and weeks and weeks about how that raw division needs a bit of a shake up and a strong Aska is good for any women's division so no one's going to compare it with that book. They have really tried in last two or three months to get Jade elevated, looked strong in the money event qualifying, had a title shot.

Ross (31:16.633)
I think that's fair.

Daz (31:19.524)
Thank

SNDRS_404 (31:26.706)
just talk me through what your thoughts are between the, not necessarily the match itself, but just the two women coming into the match at the moment, because they're obviously on different brands, different stories.

Ross (31:33.617)
Yeah, mm-hmm. You know, I think we've all been quite excited for Asuka's return. I think what we've got, I agree, is what we all wanted to see. And I think that she looks like she hasn't really missed a beat, to be honest. I've been very, very pleasantly surprised that, I thought there would be a level of ring rust, but that doesn't really seem to be. It's been nice. And then in terms of Jade Cargo, I cannot make up my mind.

Daz (31:45.179)
Thank

Ross (32:02.673)
I can't make up my mind on her. And I don't know if it's just because I'm not particularly familiar of her, you for those who are listening to audio for the first time, I am the guy who's returning to this since we started the pod. So week after Mania is me returning to the product. I haven't watched the WWE in a week. I am the filthy casual, exactly. I have not watched the WWE. I'm out here learning how to run the ropes. So I haven't probably watched the weekly product.

SNDRS_404 (32:05.672)
You

SNDRS_404 (32:19.272)
So it's casual.

Daz (32:22.091)
Yeah, that's why he's in developmental.

SNDRS_404 (32:25.374)
Ha.

Ross (32:32.901)
consistently since CM Punk dropped the pipe bomb is when I last watched it, but I watched PLEs, but then even then there was a two or three year period recently where there was no PLEs at all that I watched other than maybe one a year if we got the chance to meet up. So I'm not familiar with her, which maybe slightly tires her. I thought that the match that she had in the semi-finals, it actually wasn't great.

I don't if it was just simply the two of them just didn't really mesh. There was a few clunky moments. Go back and watch the finish. They actively stop for five seconds because they're trying to call the spot because they can't work out how enough is supposed to go. Then she changes, gets it done. She looks the part though. Like she's got the physique. She's very strong and powerful. And I think she's actually okay on the mic. I will say that, she's not bad. I think.

Daz (33:00.952)
Thank you.

Ross (33:24.289)
This is probably a match where one of these two will be more impacted by a loss than the other and I think that's what makes it very intriguing for us at home watching.

SNDRS_404 (33:32.24)
Yeah, 100%. That is, can I offer up what might seem like a harsh summary or a harsh wrap up of what Ross has said?

Daz (33:40.086)
I doubt it will be half to the mind who watches the Smackdown Women's Division every week, but go on.

Ross (33:45.041)
You

SNDRS_404 (33:46.142)
We praised the Smackdown Women's division for the first four or five weeks in this podcast and now we're saying that they need to do something. But Jade Cargill has the look, has the moves, has the power, looks phenomenal. As simple as saying she just hasn't improved enough in her time in WWE, because that's how it feels to me. She can't tell a story in the ring.

Daz (34:06.266)
There's a perfect phrase for Jade Cargill. 12 years ago she'd be a 15 time world champion in that women's division. She would be, she's got the look, she's got the physique, she's got the power. No, I'm not trying to bait people, she would be a 15 time world champion in that era. Now she's just not good enough in the ring and that's not necessarily her fault without actually putting bait out there.

Ross (34:15.057)
Jesus.

SNDRS_404 (34:15.462)
Nice bit.

Daz (34:35.993)
Where she's wrestled previously didn't really showcase or give her the chance to develop. She was too big a star, if you like, in terms of name and physique and build that she skipped developmental. And I think that's at her own detriment. She is getting better on the mic. I'm still not convinced by her. She does look the part. See if you were watching it for the first time, you think, well, this person must be the best in the business. And a 23 year old.

SNDRS_404 (34:44.914)
Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (35:01.511)
I.

Daz (35:05.636)
carried her through her semi-final match and to be honest I really feel for Roxanne on Friday night because none of that was her fault. It's probably the harsh way to say it, she's inept at the top level.

Ross (35:24.227)
Mmm. Wow.

SNDRS_404 (35:24.35)
We have praised.

The fact, even though we were confused at the time, is to the likes of Jordan Grace, Stephanie Vacar, Julia, etc. Blake Monroe now going to NXT. But we've always said, sometimes it's not about the in-ring work, it's about learning about hard cams and it's learning about the WWE style, it's learning how the referee works the match and how to interact with the crowd and how to make sure your entrance is gonna look right. Sometimes it's not the day with the in-ring work, it's just making sure the package is there. And these people, think Jordan

Grace signed full-time in January at the Rumble and she's made me watch her now. So that's five, six months. It's not a long time. The other one spent a bit longer but they did that blend which we've really enjoyed of working Mondays and Tuesdays or Tuesdays and Fridays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So Jade probably came in just, if she came in a year later she would have probably went to NXT. We probably aren't having this conversation. But...

Ross (36:22.864)
I think that's right.

SNDRS_404 (36:25.466)
On the flip side, Daz looking at you as the Smackdown correspondent, if you like. There is a story there that does allow Jade to win, go to SummerSlam, and if they're not sure about pulling the trigger, Naomi is there with the briefcase.

Daz (36:30.872)
You

Daz (36:44.252)
Yeah, I think that's why they've really lucked out a wee bit with Liv Morgan's injury in the sense of what's been booked round about it. Because I said this in last week's point, I don't think Asuka was ever the plan. I think it's a pivot for Rio. And in the same vein, I don't think if Liv had been fit, Roxanne would have got over against Jade on Friday night. It would have been Roxanne and Asuka in the final. Because Roxanne's not needed for that tag team story.

at that point, right now. She is now, she's needed because that's the story now. So I think there was another pivot on Friday. I think they're aware Jade is not ready to hold the world title. You could see it in her match with Tiffy when they had it smacked down a few weeks ago. I don't think she's there. There is a world where there is a story where she wins and you can put her in the title picture and let people see what she's like.

SNDRS_404 (37:15.218)
But she has no. Yep.

Ross (37:17.807)
Yeah, she's quite important.

Daz (37:43.594)
at that level. However, that women's title hasn't been defended for so long. If you don't book it with the right person to put on a good show, kills Tiffy's title run dead and you need to move the title on to somebody else. So I'll probably, I'll just kick off with my prediction for how this match is going to go. For me needs to be Asuka. There's already a program for Tiffy.

SNDRS_404 (38:04.68)
course, yep.

Daz (38:13.527)
Naya Jax if you want to do it short term. There's more options for Tiffy than there is for Eo. And I think that I said it last week, Asuka and Eo is a perfect eight week program where they can run each other. They've got great chemistry and I think they alluded to it on Monday night that we'll finally get Asuka versus Eo's guy. for me it's got to be Asuka. There's no point in building or returning up to the point of the final.

put someone over who did not look good through the qualifiers.

SNDRS_404 (38:48.53)
We've called for Naomi to raw a lot. We called for her when she turned heel the first time because she needed a shake up and we called for it with the Money in Bank briefcase and I have actually seen other creators including Santy's app jump on that bandwagon last two weeks so people are clearly listening to us and what are you people saying? We said it first. To me that's been negated by Ask Us Return.

Ross (38:54.085)
We have, yeah.

Ross (39:09.009)
It's good to know.

SNDRS_404 (39:15.902)
That's given enough of a kick to that division. I think they need to do something on Smackdown. The feud itself is dragging out too long. Tiffy's reign just feels a bit, you say, the title's not being defended enough and everybody else is feuding over positions. You've also got this situation where Naomi's doing these false cash-ins which just make it look like an absolute idiot. Why would you run to the ring, yes Tiffy's down but Nia Jax standing there, Nia Jax will hit you.

Ross (39:42.927)
Yeah, and Naya just goes, go away and you go, okay.

SNDRS_404 (39:45.854)
Yeah, exactly. So I'm in 100 % agreement. It has to be Asuka. Because if it's not Asuka, it buries everybody else that's been used to make Asuka look strong in the last two weeks. I think Jay can get away with a loss. It could even be not clean. Because we know that the...

Tiffany and I are in Saudi for first matchdown Friday night, so there's an opportunity to do something else. I think it has to be Asuka. I totally agree with you, it's a strong program leading into SummerSlam for Asuka and Io. It allows Rhea Ripley to stay away from that title. It allows the Women's IC title picture on Raw to remain strong, remain strong and be separate from that. And it also allows the Women's Tag titles to be separate from that again.

Daz (40:27.444)
The flush.

SNDRS_404 (40:36.768)
think from all those points of views it just has to be asked I think not knocking Jade I'm saying that I know she's not improved enough right but that's not all and I think if it's Jade it's a mistake Simple as that, Ross

Ross (40:49.617)
This for me is an interesting one and it's because I came in with a viewpoint and weirdly there has not, it's not the only person who has actually mentioned some of the logic that I was going with and I mentioned in the discord as we were kind of leading up to today's show I was of actually the full opinion that that was the move that they would take would be Cargill to win, win at SummerSlam and immediately have like a three minute title reign.

Something like that, know, that in my head just felt sensible because yes, it gives her that window in time to see how she gets on and then you can even still take it off of her anyway and go right well then you can go switch brands, do X, Y, Z, you know, those options there. But I do think the pair you do make some really good points. I think we're gonna have our first three in O here and I think that just about, I can just about see Asuka winning.

Daz (41:24.534)
Thank

Ross (41:46.917)
because it just does feel a little bit right and I mean surely they have to make a right decision.

SNDRS_404 (41:50.264)
We did go 3-0

Daz (41:53.917)
We got it. Yay.

Ross (41:54.206)
did we? Okay, well that's fine then. At least there's some commonality amongst some of these matches. But yeah, I think you guys do make really valid points. I think you've swayed me. And I think I'll just pip for Asuka.

SNDRS_404 (42:05.214)
I just, I think if it's not Asuka, we're gonna be sitting here every week for the next five weeks asking why Yulia Skye's doing 32nd backstage segments every week. She needs to be back out there, she's too good to be buried away in the background. Asuka will have that.

Ross (42:15.971)
Yes.

Daz (42:17.609)
Yeah.

Ross (42:18.723)
Mm-hmm. Fein.

Daz (42:20.106)
think the other thing for me, this is a really bold shout, I actually don't think Naomi will be successful with her cash in. I don't think she'll win the title. I think the way they're building it is going to end up triple threat and she won't win. The way that they're building it. The last man standing match is probably where it goes down to be honest. I don't know.

Ross (42:29.777)
that's interesting.

SNDRS_404 (42:31.899)
I think it's not a bad show. They have to put with...

Ross (42:37.989)
Wow.

Ross (42:44.017)
I can take it.

SNDRS_404 (42:44.394)
Do you think maybe she cashes in, turns into a normal triple threat and maybe she gets pinned by Naya? Potex Tiffy.

Daz (42:50.518)
I do think that Naya will pin Tiffy. I don't think she'll take the pin but don't think she'll win unfortunately. I don't foresee that so if you're going to put the title on Jadini be sure she's ready and I think she's probably about six to nine months away for that in terms of in-ring but getting her to work what I like to ask her right now will do her the world a good moving forward.

SNDRS_404 (42:54.078)
Okay, okay.

SNDRS_404 (43:16.862)
agreed 100 % match number five before we get to match number five we'll just take one last thing one last chance is to plug back catalog on YouTube we will do devour to get it up here and we'll deal with the RSS in the next few weeks but that's gonna take a hell of a lot to separate the audio file so everything we've talked about

Everything we've said we've talked about for weeks and weeks and weeks you'll find on our YouTube channel link tree is in the show notes match 5 King of the ring final Randy versus Cody I'll do the wee blog for this because I promised you the main event does Although I have got something to say about that before I hand it to you but Nah I'm not going to I promise I'm to be talking about the next section or the match at all

Daz (43:51.778)
Holy.

Daz (43:56.623)
Stay on my thunder YouTube.

SNDRS_404 (44:04.862)
This is really interesting to me because everything says that it should be Cody. Cody versus Cena 2 at SummerSlam. That's these predictions have been for months. I think the only way that it's... we can debate the merits of this. I just think that Cody winning the King of the Ring would be a mistake. Unless they do a double turn without stealing thunder.

He's seen Cena's face on Friday night. I think there's an acceptance that the crowd will not be returned on him. They've accepted that this is the last time it's going to be Chieng Cena for the rest of the time. Cody needs a freshen up. I think what kind of generational run is coming in at WrestleMania, defeating Seth Rollins, who's if not the top guy, the second top guy in the company, winning back to back rumbles.

Main event in Back to Back Mania is one in at the second time, ending the greatest title run in history and then, okay, I King of the Rings is not what it used to be, but then winning King of the Ring, I just think that is ridiculous booking and it's unnecessary. I think you're dealing with Sondre Randy on who is on his way out. It's the one thing missing from Randy's resume is King of the Ring. Didn't win it, won everything else.

Daz (45:09.652)
Yeah.

Ross (45:14.648)
okay, I didn't know that.

Ten Hall of Famers have actually won it. I did hear that start, which I was interesting.

SNDRS_404 (45:20.19)
And, and no matter what we say, we have always kind of believed that we would get one more Randy versus John Cena. So not predicting the match just now because like I said, the only way Cody wins to me is if we start to see that turn. So I'm not, I'm saying that's a possibility. I'm not parking that and saying that he's not winning because of that. But.

This match has to dive into legacy, the history. needs to be, this almost needs to be a bit of a brawl. Like if this needs to be a fight, does it not, does?

Daz (45:56.17)
A million percent. I'm not going to tell you who think wins for anyone who listens to the pod. You my thoughts on QB3. I am not enamoured by the guy. Your right sunderer has been booked like super senor and the guy is just not believable in that sense. He does not need to win every single feud he's in.

Because even when Roman pinned him at the first WrestleMania, he still technically got a rub. In the sense that, you're gonna lose here, but in 12 months time you're gonna get the biggest payoff in recent history. So it's like, the guy hasn't lost basically in the two and a half, well two years he's been back, three years he's been back, whatever it might be. Well it's been three Manias.

SNDRS_404 (46:29.469)
No.

SNDRS_404 (46:45.598)
Uhhhh

Four, it's come up to four years now, it's three and a half years.

Daz (46:51.538)
So the guy's not really been put on the bench since he came back.

I just don't see if it's Cody, Sina, what do we do beyond that? Is it too soon? For me it's too soon for Cody and Sina again because what you essentially do is you put your top talent in the ring where your current champion for the final time because you can't have three, they can't go three times in this retirement tour.

SNDRS_404 (47:25.318)
unless, aye, you can't go three times unless Sina drops it. It's almost lamb. It's too early for that, we think.

Daz (47:29.456)
Yes, but then I was too early for that, especially because, and we'll get on to it in a minute, I can't wait to talk about it, it's finally got good. I've been watching Smackdown every week waiting for this to happen. Cena is finally cooking, so yeah, I can't. I think it's probably the one match slated to finish cleanly, and interference makes no sense for anybody other than Logan Paul.

SNDRS_404 (47:36.926)
I can't.

Daz (47:58.192)
and I don't really see how fits in. yeah, I'm not going to give him a prediction right now. I'm going to pass it on to Ross to tell us what he thinks about how this one looks. But for me, the legacy angle, I think, is important.

We don't get these two in the ring very often. The one thing I will say before I pass it to you Ross is I thought his promo was very... I say his promo. His silent promo was very telling. He didn't say a word in the ring the entire time he was in there on Friday. Could be a bit of foreshadowing for you Saunders. Could be a bit of foreshadowing that he's finished talking, he's gonna turn heel.

Ross (48:28.294)
Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (48:33.128)
But he a little bit.

Daz (48:41.902)
It might be a way to save Cena's retirement tour in the sense of turning it into a massive success, although I do believe we've turned the corner. If you put him over as a face, the only issue is you would need to bury Cody there and then as a heel. because Cena, if he's turned Cena's face, he can't drop the title, it's pointless. So I'll pass it to you Ross.

SNDRS_404 (48:58.77)
Bye.

Ross (49:07.325)
Ooh. Am I just gonna come out with my prediction? Is it just easier than trying to...

SNDRS_404 (49:11.39)
We don't need your prediction here, we just need your thoughts, but also for the people that are listening on audio for the first time, Ross made a lot of faces there.

Ross (49:23.637)
Yeah, I just, I really, really did not expect to be as invested as once I saw that the bracket got to the semi-final and then could kind of see, you know, the permutations and where it could end up. I am really, really looking forward to this. I think this is gonna be genuinely great. I am not as...

in the camp the Daz is in with Cody Rhodes. He's kinda like, I'm kinda neutral on him, I would say. I'm not like... I'm not in the camp of like, Stan and I or anything like that, but I think that there's been some reasonable work here that could be put in. I just... man, there is just only one way it can go and it doesn't make sense unless we do kick off this absolutely insane chain reaction of events that...

It could actually make 2025 an absolute banger in that main event scene. If they do it right. But are they going to do it right?

SNDRS_404 (50:27.208)
Can I, can I just say something that to me seems blindingly obvious? The issue in this match is that neither guy needs to win King of the Ring and neither guy should win King of the Ring. I suggested that Randy's never won it but he doesn't, Randy doesn't need it at this age of career. Cody doesn't need it, he's had enough strongbooking and he is grabbing the main event picture. This could or should have been Sammy. This could or should have been Don Mysterio, just Penta, just somebody that could get...

Ross (50:38.107)
Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (50:56.382)
Not a game we talked about with Jacob, not necessarily going to win to it at the SummerSlam, but you just want to tease them at that level just to see the reaction they get, just to see can they play along with the crowd. We talk about Jey Uso a lot and the fact is he's still over with the crowd, he's still doing good work. They've tested him there, they know that he's essentially, if they need a face champion in future, they have a safe pair of hands there in Jey Uso for a period of time. Maybe not a 6, 8, 9, 10 month run, but 2, 3, 4 months, absolutely.

Ross (51:20.59)
Absolutely.

SNDRS_404 (51:26.336)
Should they have... To be Queen of the Ring is perfectly booked in that Asuka's the safe bet. They've tested and teased Jade. Okay, we weren't enamoured on Friday night, but as we've both said Ross, there is a story there that would allow Jade to win but not be overexposed because of the briefcase. In this scenario, I just think Randy's lost every food for the last three years.

Ross (51:46.117)
There is.

Ross (51:50.118)
Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (51:55.23)
Cody's won a refit for last three years and on paper it makes sense for that to continue but I just think is this just the drawback to the fact that there is no time to build the feud between them? They're both faces. It just feels like weird booking to me. It just feels like poor booking. They had four faces in the semi-finals on King of the Ring was the point.

Ross (51:57.211)
Yeah, surely.

Ross (52:01.521)
Mm-hmm.

Ross (52:18.587)
Yeah.

Yeah, it's a bit bizarre, isn't it? Like, I feel like they need to do something to make this show not be like a C-tier show. And I think this is the match where they can do something that... Well...

SNDRS_404 (52:32.633)
Aye.

Daz (52:34.756)
Wait, do you get to mouth reduction?

SNDRS_404 (52:38.317)
I saw a tweet earlier from a guy, it's a guy that's a bit controversial, seen either us in the last 12 months, I did actually agree with what he said, and that was, if Cena versus Punk doesn't cook, this could be one of the worst PLEs of all time, and I 100 % agree with that, that this whole show hinges on the main event, in my opinion. Look.

Ross (53:00.685)
Unless...

SNDRS_404 (53:01.95)
Because Randy vs Cody could be a brilliant 20 minute wrestling match. But I'm struggling with the story bit and we are a storyline based podcast. I'll jump in first and go predictions. I'm happy to into a footy here and say everything about this match screams that it should be Cody. There is no need for an aging Randy Orton to win King of the Ring. However, I have to pick Orton because it just...

Don't see the point in having Cody win everything all the time. He is allowed to lose. I don't know who's in Saudi. We talk about it in the fields, we talk about it screen finish. I don't know who's there. Obviously the whole Smackdown team are there. Anything could happen. I'm hoping this at least kick-starts the heel turn. Could we see a scenario where Autumn wins and Cody gets involved in the main event as part of the heel turn? I don't know, but...

To be brutally honest with you, and I'll come to you next year, because that's obviously going to here. I'm picking, I'm picking Randy. I'm picking Randy purely because that's what I want to see. The logic tells me otherwise, but I just have to pick Randy because I just can't, you can't win two rumbles, main event, king of the ring, and just win everything. It's pointless. It's just, it's That's just shit booking. That's just crap.

Ross (54:21.617)
Yeah, I could really see the logic in your thinking and where your mind's going. I'd like to actually, if I may, read from my notes, which I wrote just earlier on before we'd had this conversation. And I wrote the words, I can't decide how this will go, but we'll stick my night out and say, Randy, to then chase Sina again, could believe that Cody is obvious.

Daz (54:26.063)
We just need to to take a step back and look the And we need to have that conversation. And we need to have that conversation.

Ross (54:47.031)
So we're actually kind of on the same page and I'm not going to waver from that. It just feels, it feels like, screw it why not. Give RKO another moment.

SNDRS_404 (54:55.774)
think the big thing is, and again, that is you'll get your... I think I'm gonna say, we'll segue into what we were gonna say based on the other conversation. Cody is conceivably one of the three or four guys that will be in the picture to end seeing as we didn't take the rub. Now, I don't think he needs it. I think he got it from Roman. I think that's sufficient to talk about this super book and I think that's sufficient for him. But he's one of the people...

Ross (55:14.939)
Yes.

SNDRS_404 (55:22.224)
If we're all in agreement that SummerSlam is too early for Senna's reign to end because immediately you lose the jeopardy of him genuinely being the last real champion right? It kills that whole story dead. If Cody wins the King of the Ring, you immediately start the night at 10 o'clock UK time because it's an early show. We know that Cody is not the person to end Senna's reign. That is now gone completely and I think that's why I think it's a mistake. Daz.

You've been counting. I can see you're smacking everything you say, some,

Daz (55:51.446)
So

So I think that... I want break this down because this makes sense in my big brain. Both of your champions are heels. Whether or not one is universally loved by the fanbase or not, both are heels. Four faces in the semi-finals, a king of the ring. Only two feasible finalists and we have them both. I agree. Cody can't end the run.

SNDRS_404 (56:00.35)
Break it

Daz (56:22.208)
It's almost like it can't end in August if he's going to race it with December. There's more retirement too if he's not got the title.

This is where I get this from. I want take you back to episode one of this podcast. Why talk about long term booking? Hear me out right? Episode one of this podcast, we spoke about WrestleMania. We spoke about The Rock and we spoke about the fact that that was number two and there's a third guy in this mix somewhere.

SNDRS_404 (56:38.718)
Ross (56:39.141)
rolling back the years.

Daz (56:59.638)
We know that Gunther has a story. Until at the very least Saturday Night Main Event. Him and Big Bouldy. So there is no space on the Main Event picture in Raw. That leaves Cody Rhodes and JSO out of the picture. I'm going to give you what you want Saunders and you're going to get

Ross (57:06.874)
Yes.

SNDRS_404 (57:07.795)
Yep.

Ross (57:16.537)
Mm-hmm. I think that's fair.

Daz (57:28.546)
your Cody Rhodes heel turn but you don't get it on Saturday I reckon Jay also costs Cody King of the Ring because Cody old yellowed him in the qualifiers so because Jay is so over Jay needs a program to remain over and Cody needs to turn because he's getting booed in arenas anyway you might as well turn the guy he's getting booed so

Ross (57:38.095)
Ross (57:56.977)
interesting.

Daz (57:58.157)
For me, Randy wins as a clean sweep and that's probably the most surprising clean sweep that we'll get is that we're 3-0 against Cody Rhodes. I think this is...

Ross (58:03.683)
Yes, that is not the match I expected a clean sweep in. I will say that.

Daz (58:08.813)
Yeah, and I just neither makes sense to win King of the Ring, but from a storytelling perspective, it couldn't be Jay and Cody in the final. And I get that. Sammy's no believable. I said this last week, Sammy's not a world champion and never will be in my eyes. So for me, the booking makes sense. It'll be a shock. And I think that we just spoke about it. That's what this card needs. This card needs something to blow the roof off it. It needs something.

Ross (58:22.683)
You did,

SNDRS_404 (58:35.302)
I'm just looking to see if JSO can actually go to South there anyway.

Daz (58:40.075)
Why would they not be able to?

Ross (58:40.632)
yeah, I hadn't even thought about that.

SNDRS_404 (58:41.854)
Cause he had all those issues with DUIs now, I know that got fixed cause he was off in London previously. And he's been to the France shows, but whether not the is stricter than that, I don't know cause it's alcohol related, I don't, I know, I don't dislike it, I think it.

Daz (58:52.876)
There's enough money in the world to make things happen.

Ross (58:56.704)
Usually.

Daz (59:01.066)
Because Cody and need to do something up until SummerSlam because Gunter's off the books so Jay doesn't get his rematch if that's even a thing anymore. And what are we going to do with Cody because you can't even run Cody John for what is it, seven weeks between now and SummerSlam. We don't need it. It doesn't need to be done for the sake of Cody losing and then we know he's not getting it up. So for me, Randy wins and I would just...

SNDRS_404 (59:01.563)
Be that.

Yeah.

Ross (59:24.697)
I agree. I do agree.

Daz (59:30.892)
It needs a shock value because it will be a good wrestling match. two of them are going to put on a show. But for me, Jay is going to win.

SNDRS_404 (59:36.606)
What's interesting is that if you look at the SummerSlam card at the moment, that's what I'm cycling through, it does say John Cena versus King of the Ring tournament winner. So know both guys are on SmackDown, but they've obviously penciled in meant to say that it doesn't matter who wins, it's Cena.

I don't dislike it, I think something has to happen and to be fair I've predicted a by-ask-rory finish in the Fatou solo match and we've seen at least one in every show and in some of the we've seen multiple so again I just hope there's a way that they can do it that doesn't spoil it on Friday night because I've not looked at the predict that necessarily was happening outside the matches but obviously if we see Jey Uso appear on the show

Daz (01:00:22.092)
you

SNDRS_404 (01:00:23.582)
Because Cody over there could just have went down the star then. Does that give it away? But I don't dislike it. I am surprised we went 3-0 Orton. But I think we're all in agreement that it's more so because it kills... Believe it not, it actually kills Cody's momentum to win it. Because we know that his position as a potential champion post-Siena is gone. Unless they're doing a title change at SummerSlam and then a...

Daz (01:00:34.614)
Thank

Ross (01:00:49.187)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (01:00:53.594)
a nostalgia tour which none of us want. So that being said, it is time for the main event of the evening, the match we're looking for. Daz is getting a couple minutes here to give us everything for Friday night. I'm going to point out a couple of things. And I'll show the camera for those of you listening to my notes, just say John Cena got.

And a big thing actually since Stu finally got a shout out which is where I think the wee tease is starting because that's a change already. You get nothing. Well, he gave us something Friday night. But Ross and I were discussing this on Saturday when we writing about it. And that's just why I'm happy handing this to you, because you can when it comes to seeing his last match in December. I'm just going to mute the two of you guys and we're all for 10 minutes about John Cena. And I don't care. I love the guy. Daz. Friday night.

Ross (01:01:25.578)
It is. Yeah, well spotted though.

Daz (01:01:47.488)
Friday night is the promo I have waited almost 15 years for.

I'm to start with the way it was booked. It was booked beautifully. Roger, may not necessarily have caught all this unless you've seen it. See the pipe bomb way back when?

Ross (01:02:07.673)
yeah, no, it's the only thing from SmackDown as a whole I have actually seen this week and it was beautiful, wasn't it? It was absolutely beautiful.

Daz (01:02:17.993)
So the pipe bomb way back when when CM Punk dropped the pipe bomb John Cena lost to R-Truth that night. Cena also went through the table and Punk cut the promo. To flip that on Friday night was sensational. My favourite thing about the promo was John had fun.

Ross (01:02:39.803)
Yeah, it was.

Daz (01:02:47.509)
cutting that promo. It did not look like he was doing heel work for the sake of furthering the story. He fucking enjoyed that promo. He has waited almost 15 years for that promo. I'll get to the shout outs in a minute. Which is just that you could tell how much he was enjoying it. The way he flipped the pipebomb on punk, just at every opportunity.

SNDRS_404 (01:02:48.934)
yes, she does.

Ross (01:02:48.965)
be dead, didn't he?

SNDRS_404 (01:03:07.153)
Awesome.

Daz (01:03:17.768)
Reference into the tweets, cetera, building into Knight of Champions. For those you who don't know, or maybe perhaps weren't about, back in the, there were some tough days watching the product pack then outside of this, be honest. Punk has made multiple references before about blood money, et cetera, et cetera. So, yeah, the way they flip the script on Punk.

and Fair Played Punk he sold for six minutes lying on that table which is not an easy feat so the shout outs, the shout outs, the shout outs Claudio Castagnoli right fantastic to give Cesaro the shout out for those who don't know who that is a good friend I've us they go for coffees I believe they still speak to each other quite regularly

Ross (01:03:59.908)
Excellent.

SNDRS_404 (01:04:12.11)
They test each other apparently all the time about finding the best coffee spots in different cities across the world. think there's three of them, I can't the other person in the group.

Daz (01:04:17.73)
Yeah, yeah. You had Matt Cardona as well, who is milking the life out of this. Have you seen his new t-shirts? Superb, excellent merch, I love it. Ride the cocktails. And obviously we did the third shout out. So I know I've just downplayed him there as if he didn't really matter. yeah, the subliminal messaging within those three, 43 people.

SNDRS_404 (01:04:25.854)
The ending I guess. Yep.

Ross (01:04:26.202)
yeah, he is loving it.

Daz (01:04:45.77)
for punk is very telling. I thought it was expertly put together. I was critical that we were maybe getting this feud too early. Thank God they gave us it when they did because I would have hated to have waited another three months to get that moment. I feel like I've earned that moment but I also feel like this is now why they pulled the trigger because that promo doesn't have the same effect if this match isn't in Saudi Arabia. So it amplifies the promo.

SNDRS_404 (01:04:58.398)
I still think we are.

Ross (01:05:12.689)
I would agree.

SNDRS_404 (01:05:14.183)
Yeah.

Daz (01:05:15.452)
a billion times. My only concern is that's the first time John has ever looked stronger into a title defense. So I'm a little bit nervous for him. I feel like we'll go clean sweep on this based on the way we've spoken through the pod so far. I am surprised Punk's going to be there. will lie, I'm... Well, well, he has to be there. He has to be there because if you want to exverve it on Friday night, he's got to be in Saudi Arabia.

Ross (01:05:22.481)
You

SNDRS_404 (01:05:30.45)
Yeah, I think so.

Ross (01:05:37.019)
Well, that's what I want to speak about, is that we don't.

Daz (01:05:44.786)
So,

Ross (01:05:46.182)
that's the interesting part is that obviously he wasn't booked. He wasn't booked to be on there and now we're 48 or 72 hours out from time of recording for when he has to, you would assume, be in the country and we have absolutely no idea how they're gonna do it.

SNDRS_404 (01:06:04.019)
Apparently the charters tomorrow apparently. I believe it's Wednesday.

Daz (01:06:04.125)
think it's difficult though because you dilute the impact of that problem if the match doesn't go ahead.

Ross (01:06:08.067)
Is it?

Ross (01:06:15.471)
I would agree with that for what it's worth. do, and it is not, he would not be the first, you know, mid to late 40s punk guy to sell his soul after spending decades saying one thing to then do the opposite, right? It would not, it's not surprising. That's what guy people who are in the punk scene do.

Daz (01:06:17.873)
I am.

SNDRS_404 (01:06:17.971)
Yes.

Daz (01:06:33.321)
and see if you look at his long term promos since he returned he said multiple times I'm not here to make friends I'm here to make money he said it multiple times and that's possibly just being in the build up to this moment so

SNDRS_404 (01:06:42.778)
You make money. Also...

Ross (01:06:43.889)
Hmm.

SNDRS_404 (01:06:48.478)
It also sets up a potential heel turn for Spunk when the time is right because he is a great heel and it's there, it's there. I take it you know why Cena picked those three names for the shoutouts? The... No, no. In the build up to Vesemir 29

Ross (01:06:48.518)
Maybe.

Ross (01:06:55.829)
yeah.

Daz (01:07:02.321)
Yes.

Ross (01:07:03.545)
Yeah, it was because he buried them backstage, hadn't he?

SNDRS_404 (01:07:10.398)
punk criticised Cena vs The Rock and says why are guys like Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder not getting chances and we're rehashing Dwayne The Rock Johnson so that's why he picked him out. It's the great, if the pipe bomb is the greatest problem of all time this is now the greatest problem of all time because he's just, this is why Johnson is the greatest problem time in my opinion and obviously a group, there's a nostalgia factor but...

Ross (01:07:18.401)
right, yeah. No, I've got that round the wrong way. Yeah.

SNDRS_404 (01:07:37.488)
I just, I love the guy, I think he's brilliant, I think it's the great, it's just, it was perfect, it was so good. And as you said, it's not because he was a heel, and it's not because he was telling the whole, what the Mizzie's promo and talking smack, where it's the truth mixed in with the storytelling, it's just because he sat in that tongue buckle and he just took the piss for like seven, eight minutes and just had fun. It wasn't an act.

Daz (01:07:43.56)
as the greatest problem of all time.

Ross (01:07:46.135)
It's right up there.

Daz (01:08:02.364)
Wasn't it an act? Yeah, it wasn't an act. It was him waiting to unleash that.

SNDRS_404 (01:08:06.686)
And that's what I said when he realised the crowd were going to cheer him no matter what, that smirk in his face. He's just like, I've got to see at some point in the next three, four, five weeks his music's going to hit and it won't be a black backdrop, it'll be the Fruity Pebbles, you can't see me in the background and the crowd are going to go fucking nuts and I am so ready for it. He has a face, he's just, he's already the face, he turns the air, they call it for Stu, that smirk, walking away, he's just like, he's just

Ross (01:08:21.87)
yeah.

SNDRS_404 (01:08:36.64)
having fun. He is the greatest professional entertainer wrestler of all time in my opinion and I can't drag this commerce out anymore. I just think I'm going in this weekend and I I'd like to make a bold prediction and I'd like to say again depending on who goes that we might see a field cash in.

Daz (01:08:38.888)
I told Larry.

Ross (01:09:05.167)
Okay, that's interesting.

SNDRS_404 (01:09:06.116)
I think, I just think that something like that needs to be there because it would give you punk versus Rollins as well if you caused him the match but I think Cena retains and I think he retains with a pin whether he uses the title belt or not I don't know whether it's a heel finish but I think Cena walks out his champ and I don't think he can go any other way. Does?

Daz (01:09:37.124)
I did say when I was lavishing how fantastic that promo was, we are going to clean sweep. There is theoretically no way that Punk can win this. We said SummerSlam is too early and Cody is the biggest, whether I rate him or not, Cody is the biggest name in the business to take it off him. Punk can't win it. Although I do think we...

SNDRS_404 (01:09:37.17)
Sorry Ross, I just pecked

Ross (01:09:46.577)
Yeah, I think so.

Daz (01:10:06.309)
I originally thought we would get Punk Cena 2 on this tour. I don't think you can do it now. With the way that Cena has, because let's be honest, Cena buried him on Friday night with that promo. He has to pin him. Or tap him out or whatever. But this is a one and done. Cena retains, there's no two ways about it for me.

SNDRS_404 (01:10:12.306)
No, I think this is up.

Daz (01:10:32.325)
I'll be shocked if there's a cash in. I think there may be a cash in attempt post-match where Cena escapes. I think there may be a fail. I think Rollins may appear but I'm just wary of Naomi's situation. Do you really want the so-called stable that is absolutely ours right now to have a failed cash in attempt because it's teetering as it is?

SNDRS_404 (01:10:41.48)
possible.

SNDRS_404 (01:10:57.926)
It's struggling. I'm only saying that because I think it's the only way to allow for Cena Punk to later in the year. think if doesn't happen, it's... Because if Cena hits on my title, it's still a reasonably clean win. It's a pinfall, 1-2-3 middle of the ring. Then I agree with you, I think it's one and done. And I don't understand why we would get Randy twice, booked Randy as the kind of ring winner.

I guess that's probably his greatest rival of all time. Ross, I know you're gonna go for 3-0 here, but any different thoughts on the actual?

Daz (01:11:33.926)
Thank

Ross (01:11:35.322)
I guess my only thing that I have and the only question I have around it is, you know, as I'd said jokingly earlier, it is not a massive surprise that punk, punk rockers, punk kinda guys that get to the 40s to sell their souls just look at like guys from the Sex Pistols and stuff like that and you see those comparisons are there. I just find it very strange that punk at time of recording is going to be in this match in Saudi Arabia when he said all these things, but to then lose anyway.

Daz (01:11:40.614)
Thank you.

Yeah.

Ross (01:12:05.393)
I'm struggling because I agree, I think Cena goes over and I think we're 3-0 in here, so think that's what, three of the six matches? Is that right that we went 3-0? Which is quite interesting. But I'm just struggling to reconcile with this notion in my head that that is how it's going to go, because I think that's how it's going to go. So I don't know.

SNDRS_404 (01:12:13.213)
Yeah.

Ross (01:12:28.187)
personally how much I'm going to see of the PLE live. I was certainly able to get a couple hours in before it and I think I have to nip out at one point during it. So hopefully Bum is back in seat so I can see this live because I'm really interested for the previous match and this match to really see how they execute, to see how they do it because I think you're right and I think that random guy on Twitter is correct. Particularly this and the last match is where this entire card hinges and do this wrong, don't execute it right.

and you're like, why have you flew these guys into basically a war zone? It's not that... He's not had the payoff. Give us a payoff. Please. Make it worth it.

Daz (01:13:07.342)
Yes, speaking of watching it live, I am the wifeless and childless fun uncle of the Golden Shovel. So this guy will be live on TikTok at the Golden Shovel. I will be live streaming whilst watching this potential classic or potential classic without the CL.

SNDRS_404 (01:13:14.325)
Hehehehehe

Ross (01:13:15.428)
You

Daz (01:13:29.193)
I'll be live on the TikTok channel. Come and watch it all unfold with me. These guys will probably drop in and out of chat to catch up as and when they get time. They're real adults, they real responsibilities. Come hang with your boy.

Ross (01:13:37.359)
Yes.

SNDRS_404 (01:13:42.686)
Aye, I'm at a family wedding but if I can get the wife drunk enough and into bed I'm going be joining you for a post show reaction. If I can get her drunk enough so can watch the wrestling piece. Aye.

Ross (01:13:43.345)
You

Daz (01:13:49.657)
glad that's where that went. If he can get it, that can happen. If that happens.

Ross (01:13:52.921)
This is, I know we tick the explicit content box. I tick the explicit.

I know we tick the explicit content box, but Jesus Christ.

Daz (01:14:01.198)
If that happens he will not appear for the wrestling let me tell you.

SNDRS_404 (01:14:06.046)
I mean that, I think we've done alright there.

We've got 3-3 and always we've got a little bit of a split. Hopefully you guys that have joined us for the first time on audio will see that even when we are picking these matches, it's not just picking it in silos of it's a match on a Saturday night. It's what's happened before, what's still to come. It's dazzled at the link tree and the show notes you'll get to our TikTok, follow that, it will go live.

we should have YouTube set up but it will most likely be me the streamers on YouTube and I'm not available this weekend. And hopefully for the next few weeks, because we're trying to balance our main channel and the wrestling stuff, we will bring some additional content on the wrestling channel with some secondary videos. So we really appreciate everybody joining us for this first audio and I will reiterate everything that up until now is on the YouTube channel. Golden Travel Podcast.

and we'll end the podcast there. Let us know in comments on YouTube or...

in the contact us segment of the audio, wherever you get your audio from. Because we should give a through bus route your thoughts on the PLE, even if you want to give us your thoughts after the PLE and we can discuss them and react to them next week. Like we say in every episode, if you've got something you want us to discuss in the podcast, let us know. If you have a podcast yourself and you want to come on and guest spot and talk about some stuff, great, let us know, we'll get you on. And we'll sign it off there, so Daz.

Ross (01:15:27.503)
Yeah, absolutely.

Ross (01:15:39.706)
Absolutely.

Daz (01:15:43.395)
I am looking forward to this probably more so than I was about 12 p.m. today having a chance to talk out. I'm looking forward to it as I say Wifeless Childless Unc will be live on TikTok so come and join the fun. But yeah, take care.

SNDRS_404 (01:15:50.865)
No.

SNDRS_404 (01:15:59.806)
will endeavor to be there for the main event. Ross.

Ross (01:16:02.841)
Yeah, that was good fun. think I'm in agreement. I think I've went from significantly underwhelmed to I am certainly in the whelmed category. So WWE, the floor is yours.

Daz (01:16:12.003)
That's the worst outro in the series let me tell you

SNDRS_404 (01:16:13.694)
I don't

Ross (01:16:17.169)
Worst outro so far.

Daz (01:16:21.515)
You know what? That's very valid.

SNDRS_404 (01:16:23.427)
Aye, I'm for myself as a host. Take it easy guys and we'll catch you next week.