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Saturday, August 31: Wrestling Spotlight All - In Wrap And Bash At Berlin Preview
Well welcome in to wrestling spotlight weekly champions Gerald Bentley I'm joined by sunny the man Eagle Kane and it was a big week I got a picture right behind me from Wembley Stadium was there in London for eight W's all in and sunny just like the WWE shows have shown in Europe. It was a super intense crowd from the start to the finish hopefully I haven't seen it on TV yet I'd imagine it translated pretty well, because the fans were intense and they were ready for every match right from the start. Which, you know, I think is something that AEW and WWE are finding when they're going to destinations that they don't usually go to or it's only once a year. You just get so much more of an intense crowd. Well sure. Anytime the fans get to see the action in person is going to be intense and especially at the bigger stadiums. Yeah, I have people. I'm tickled the leagues are branching out overseas more and more and it's bringing more opportunity for the wrestlers to work their craft and, and to perfect their wrestling skills and ability. Yeah, it was a really, really a great show and our new AEW world champion is the American Dragon Brian Danielson. So it does get the world championship. How'd you feel about that? I was surprised the dragon has been around for quite some time and you never know how those type things are going to play out. You never know who's who's re-signed on the contract and who's leaving. Yeah, well, I think this went the opposite of what a lot of people would expect because Brian Danielson, not terribly old. He's 42 years old. He's younger than Randy Orton who just signed a five year extension. But Brian Danielson's said multiple times. Hey, I'm, I'm about died. He gets the championship win and what was a great match. Swerve Strickland had just signed a contract that puts him at the height of professional wrestling pay. So I had a new four year contract earlier that day for AEW. So the guy who's going to be there longer didn't win the title. I don't think Swerve necessarily needs it because probably their hottest feud that they've had the last really the last three years has been swerve against hangman. That's going to be, if not the main event, a sub main at all out. The sister pay per view to all in. It takes place in Chicago on the seventh. Brian Danielson's made it clear he's not going to be there that long. Here's a clip from the post show press conference that I was in attendance for. He's talking about it. Honestly, like I said, I have no, this was my sole focus is tonight and I was really happy with how things turned out and then everything going forward. I'm going to have to think about because sweet girl. Did you want Daddy to come home after this? Yeah, so how can I, you know, came across great in the post show press conference, just a terrific, terrific person. And, you know, he's got a neck fusion surgery on the radar as he is having issues with tingling in an arm. I mean, it's all real. I don't think we're going to see Brian Danielson here for all that long. What do you think, son? Sure. I think he's going to be out for a little while. I myself have a neck injury issue too, but I don't have any tingling in the arms. I have a little right leg issue for where I overkit that martial arts, I think, and doing the force, but, you know, it takes time to heal. And my path is to try and continue to drop the weight and see how that goes first. My dad just had some neck surgery that really didn't go well. And, or some back surgery, but anyway, in any event, you know, I've never heard good things about neck and back surgery. So that's going to be a fun process. It's taking Charlotte Flair all this time time to heal from her wounds, and I've been surprised by that because of the way she has gone to the gym and gone to therapy and worked out. It still looks like a nine month hiatus. Is that. Yeah. Well, before she comes back to us, it takes a while. You know, Jamie Hader, former AEW Women's Champion, she made her return in her hometown, Alondin. Got a thunderous response. She's been out for 15 months with a rotator cuff surgery. So I mean, these are, these are legit injuries and Brian Danielson's looking at it saying, I mean, I could keep wrestling, but I have two small kids. I want to have a good rest of my life. I don't want to be broken down when I leave, but I think we're seeing pretty much the final flight of the American Dragon. And it's been talked about that wrestle dream coming up towards the end of the year is going to be yet. That's the AEW pay per view closest to Brian's hometown. I'd imagine that is true. It's that's going to be it. I mean, he's literally week to week at this point. I think if he loses another match, that's it. He's retiring. Well, and I'll probably be his send off match. And, yeah, so get that into is a fine way to exit. I didn't really get that. I went out being a referee, but we'll put chai and choy that more than the rest. When I was at Bangdon and beaten. So, you know, everyone pays their due and everyone has their day. And we, even as fans, we tend to understand the ex-pangs of the business. And that's why the air takes me so bad with being fair sometimes is they don't realize that, hey, we ready to get banged up in the ring. I had to walk away from a guy at the gym last week that wanted to go there and I didn't. I broke away in that nicely, but it's real to me when people say, oh, it's old. There's that. No, it's not. No, what we can do about moonsault, talk to top, top roads and stuff, top turnbuckles and stuff. And it'd be 100% fake. I just, it's media. Yeah, no, I mean, the impacts are real. I mean, here, when you learn amateur wrestling, they talk about teaching you how to fall. It's still hurts. You can follow the right way. It still hurts. It's not uncomfortable. It's not comfortable. It's especially when you're thrown out. Another match that was a big storyline endpoint. Will Ospreay against MJF, MJF playing the classic heel, walking out dressed like Apollo Creed, the full red, white and blue top hat and everything to take on? Will Ospreay in his hometown? And will Ospreay came out as one of the players in Assassin's Creed, which is one of the better media products placements I've ever seen because this game of Assassin's Creed talks about somebody going from the UK to Japan to become an assassin and it actually ties in with Will Ospreay's own biography, leaving RevPro to go to New Japan to become the aerial assassin. He was super excited about it. And I think it helped get people even more excited for Will Ospreay getting the win and taking that international title. Here's what Will Ospreay said about it right after the match. It feels right. It feels very good. I can't imagine telling my 14-year-old self. Okay, so when 31, you're going to wrestle in Wembley Stadium and there's about 50,000 people in there and you're going to come out being inducted into the Assassin's Creed and Ezio's going to do it for you. You're going to have the sickest entrance ever and Mum's going to be out there and they're all going to be cheering her surname. Oh, I don't believe you. Honestly, it's been wild and like now that this is back, it's time to remind people what this international title was about and it's about taking on the best challenges and putting on the best matches and the best rest is going to be doing so. And he's going to be taking on Pac coming up at all out. Really just a tremendous effort in a guy who arguably, I guess along with Cody Rhodes and I'd say Swarth Strickland, the best pound for pound professional wrestler going today. Will Ospreay? I agree. We talked about this, another bed at length on Russell Dad's podcast Wednesday night night and there were some differences of opinion but, well, Ospreay has been there a while now and I look forward to seeing my first pay-per-view show in a couple of weeks and seeing what he can actually do in the ring wide open and full scale so that'll be fun. Yeah, I mean, he can just go, he can do anything. And I think it's really good and I want to give a EW credit for putting the wrestlers up front in a press conference setting because they really present themselves well. Will Ospreay, Brian Danielson, Hook, they just came across tremendously and you can see the joy that they have and how excited they were to fill up that national stadium in London. Oh yeah, I imagine so, like I said, the leagues are putting in the money now and they're going overseas, T&A's doing real well here in the States and it's the great road that I had been hoping for for many years that good restaurant will come back to the local areas where it began and I actually began in small towns of America somewhat and then spread out. So, you know, you have more options today than you had in my day. So, you don't, I didn't go to WWE when they came calling on me but you don't have to go there now to make it, you can go four or five places now and do just as well and then have a better talk. Yeah, here I got to, I got to ask somebody who was in WWE and actually threw away the tag team titles, the women's tag titles to walk out, went to New Japan, created a new identity. And now she is in all elite wrestling, your CEO Mercedes Monet, she beats Dr Britt Baker, holds on to the TBS title. And I think she's doing exactly what she said she's helping elevate that women's division, where you have multiple storylines going. A deep roster now, not just the heavyweight championship, but that TBS title, it's being lifted up to almost an even level with the AEW Worlds Championship that's now held by the glamour Mariah Mae after she finished her. Yeah, what do you want to say, her vindictive acts on timeless Tony Storm, said Tony Storm wandering through the streets of London in her wrestling gear. We'll see how that ends up, Luther, the Butler was chasing after her. But I got to ask Mercedes Monet, how does she feel helping actually just elevate the women's division. Mercedes Gerald Bentley with wrestling spotlight play. Mercedes Gerald Bentley with wrestling spotlight is your role as the CEO. How much do you feel you've elevated the women's division in AEW? I mean, I definitely help put women's wrestling on the map, top to bottom in every single company that I stepped in. Ever since I've joined AEW, the women's division has just been flourishing to a whole new heights, a whole new level. And I feel like the women here are, I'm sorry, the storylines are just way better than the men. As you saw before, Mariah Mae, our new champion. Her versus Tony this whole year has just been so captivating and watching them really made me choose AEW because of this women's division. Like I've said, many times AEW is the place to be. Why? Because of the women here. So ever since I've been here, it just shows you that money changes everything and we're going to keep on showing the whole world why we are the best at what we do. There we go. And just backing it up. She's your current new Japan strong women's champion and the TBS champion. She's actually wrestling tonight for new Japan in Washington DC. How do you think this has worked out for the former Sasha Banks, honey? Well, I mean, you know, I'm a Monday fan. So I approve of whatever's done. But somebody was saying she didn't speak really well on the microphone. And I said, well, that could be part of the irritating side of her trying to get to you. And that's what I think it is. I think it's working out well. It's working out better than predicted. And I think it'll continue to work out. Well, and keep in mind too. Sometimes how you come across on the microphone is solely dependent on what you're given to say. I think he's given more room to talk now. That was part of the reason why she left. Right, because if you got if you got creamy things to say on the microphone, that's how you will sound. Yeah, I didn't get any micro any on the mic time until I started doing live shows. We had no microphone time and training camp. So, you know, it's cut straight from the hip and I can go into more detail on the previous podcast, but I chose not to, but yes, sir, it's a skill. And occasionally they even have the top 10 best mic performers of all time versus one versus the worst. And, you know, it takes a lot of practice. I used to rehearse before going into it as soon as I got whenever it was that I was to say. And that's one another folks do sometimes you have zero time time to rehearse and go into it and you got to go right then. So everyone can't be the rock. So, sure. Well, I think it's good now too that in both cups, both big companies. Eight W and W and TNA, they're not being so incredibly scripted that you can just tell their radio doesn't sound natural. Yes, sir. You know, and, and I like it better that way. People say, say, well, wrestling script and not everything in wrestling is, at least it was in my time and my day. Some things pop up and you have to deal with them right then. And I admire good my talkers because it is a real art is as much to me. And my professional opinion, the art of talking on the mind is as much an art as actually wrestling. Sure. And I've been able to say what you want to say and get it to come across the right way. Yeah, I mean, here, take a look at MJF, MJF spent a couple of years being just hammered on saying, hey, all he can do is talk the guy's not a good wrestler. Well, now it's been proven. He can actually go. He can have great matches. He has good matches with everyone. I mean, he was going move for move with Will Osprey in front of 54,000 people. But he is a terrific talker. That's what elevated him to that position to begin with. So they can both go together. Yes, sir. They can. And sometimes the promoters are giving you short things to say to see how you might do. And other times they'll say, well, talk about this or talk about that. So, you know, not some promoters of hold the guys back for whatever reason. And I never understood that because I would won't. But when I promoted my first show, I wanted the most promising workers in the dressing room. I didn't want to show of people that weren't competent. So, you know, but that was me. I came across that way and I did the best I could. And from that, I learned that not every show is going to happen. So, thanks, Tom. Yeah, no, it's, and it's definitely a team process. I want to play this clip, too, from Tony Khan. I thought it was a great answer he gave about what goes in to putting a show together. And he compared it to being like an NFL team, like what he does with the Jaguars and Fulham. What goes into it. Here's what he had to say. Hi, Tony, he's learning it from post wrestling. I wanted to ask you something about the creative process in AWS. I know that you're not going to pull the curtain back altogether on this, but I'm going to ask anyway. I think one of the common themes of all in 2024 has been, it's been better received, I believe, in the build. The feud building, the storytelling. And I wonder, is there any kind of change in your outlook on this? I mean, in the media call on Thursday, you did mention the kind of the input that went into the women's world title program, for example. And I think throughout the card, it was seen this year, possibly more so than last year. You're the co-owner, you're also the Booker, you know, who else is involved in? Is it RJ? Is it Chris Daniels? Is it Jimmy Jacobs? You know, can you can you? There's like 27 people involved in the process. And it's like a football team. When I go in, and I like, I'm at a football meeting where there's like a lot of people contributing ideas and you have like a dozen coaches on offense and a dozen coaches on defense. And everybody puts something in. And at the end of the day, I have to decide. And I get pitched hundreds and hundreds of ideas a week, and I can do less than half of them. And some of them are great ideas that just don't make you sense because you'd need somebody else that somebody else had a better idea for, or that we were already pretty far down the line with. And it's like a big map. And I get pitched hundreds of things. And then if I, you know, I have to decide. So, but that's a lot like other sports. You know, this is a sport. And that's something I've been trying to like hammer into the people is like, when people tell me I've said that a lot this weekend, people tell me they're going to try to do something. And I say that wouldn't fly and that doesn't fly because this is a sport. And I really like that answer because I think it ties right in to their underlying theme of this year, AEW, where the best wrestle, they want it to be promoted and watched like a sport. That's why the matches are longer. That's why the matches are intense. You can still have the plot elements, still have the story elements, but that intensity and the interactivity that goes into it, I think is super important. And I thought that was a great, really well thought out answer because, you know, Jacksonville Jaguars, they have a coaching staff of 20 some people. And you look at AEW, they have producers, they have coaches and big high level wrestlers. You know, Jericho, Chris Jericho has a lot of input as to what he's doing. I'm sure John Moxley does. I'd imagine Swerve has some input as to what he's doing Mercedes. So you do have a lot of different voices coming in and it's up to at some point a head coach to put it together. Yes, sir. And when you have that, that caliber of people coming at you, it's tough. I couldn't use my friends, the hardy boys on my show because I had to put your show and I couldn't afford them at the time. And they were just starting out back in the day and I wanted to use them. But I was trying to shove a strap for gas and I understood that. And that's why Tony Khan was just saying, you have to think about a world of things when you're putting together shows. It's not just wins and then also so much, but how is everyone going to be dealt with that after the show? Everyone wants to pay check. And what's coming next? What's the next step? Because as he went on and if you listen to AEW press conferences or you get a chance to listen to some of the media calls that Tony Khan does, he gets great answers. He'll get a question and he'll give you like a five minute answer. I mean, if you take the time to listen, he's going to answer that question. Incredibly detailed. So, I mean, you get a really good idea of what the process is. And, you know, that makes sense. You're hiring all these people with impact high level positions. Everybody can't be right all the time. So, you're going to, you're going to go through some different things and you have to because pro wrestling doesn't have an off season. It's 52 weeks every week. And then if you'll get a WWE pretty much every month, there's a pay per view or premium live event that you're building to. So, there's a lot of details that go into play. It's not just, Hey, this is a good match. Let's do it. You have to have elements behind it. Yes, sir. I mean, you got to have a reason for disease and so to speak. And that's that's what I've, that's what I miss about the house shows. The house shows are so much easier to deal with sometimes because they don't have all the drama and intensity of a bigger show like DNA or AEW, for example, you just go in there and have fun. You're the baby and he's the bad guy or vice versa. And you're in there to basically. Don't you think now there's, there's so much money involved. I mean, this came out in a report last week that AEW has generated $1.2 billion of advertising for Time Warner this past year. That's a lot of money. I mean, when you're pulling in that kind of revenue. You're wanting to maximize everything you do. So really doesn't make sense to do a show and have it not be on television somewhere. I bet Michigan has trouble sleeping at night. Well, they own the Jacksonville Jaguars and they also unfold them in the EPL. So that's a, that's a packed schedule. There's no doubt about that. They had a busy day in addition to signing Swerve Strickland just a little bit before all in. Daniel Garcia was there as well. And I don't think he just showed up. The reports have been flooding the pro wrestling news sites on the Internet. The dirt sheets, if you will, saying, Oh, he's gone. He's going to the WWE. I don't think that's the case because he was at all in and had a key role in distracting MJF, allowing Will Osprey to win. And he's going to be in one of the high profile matches that all out going against MJF. Here's what Tony Khan had to say about Daniel Garcia. Hi, Tony, Stephanie Chees. Tonight, we saw the return of Daniel Garcia during the MJF Osprey match. There's been a lot of talk and speculation about him recently. Reportedly, his contracts up in October. Has he resigned signed an extension? It's negotiating. What's going on? Well, you know, I don't want to necessarily comment on everybody's contract length or status, but Daniel is here and he's a great part of AEW. We've been having great success, and this is a great night to reflect back on what we've been doing here in AEW. And for some reason, we keep going back to this number of, like, the past three years, but at Revolution, we talked about the three-year run of Sting. And what a special three-year run it was with Sting in AEW from 2021, Revolution to Revolution 24. Brian Danielson, at all out, 2021, he debuted and we're coming up on three years of Brian Danielson in AEW and, again, a really special moment in that three years. Well, it's been, you know, about three years with Daniel here, and Daniel Garcia started with us in Daley's place, and he was kind of on that run of shows right before we went back and started wrestling in front of the crowds again. So somebody who's been with us a really long time, somebody beloved by the fans and backstage, and we love having Daniel here. So without saying exactly what's going on, it's a good sign that he was here, I think, and really great to have him come and take that next step tonight after what happened with him and MJF and Will Osprey being involved in the international title. It was a great payoff to a lot of storytelling in the recent weeks on Dynamite, and I think we're on a really great run of Dynamite. You know, people thought this Go Home show was probably our best Go Home show we've done and one of the best shows, and really it feels like that's been consistent. You know, coming out of Forbidden Door, I felt like the show we did Beach Break in Chicago was one of our best, and it was when Garcia had gotten taken out, you know, right back then leading into that MJF Will Osprey. It's 59 minute and 58.5 second international title match setting up tonight's rematch, but Daniel Garcia has been a big part of EW for a long time. We love having him here. Thanks for asking. After that answer, I don't think you can be anything but supremely confident that he's not going anywhere. I'm amazed how WWE is now insinuating that he's a threat to their ratings, and I'm like, dude, he's only been out of a few years now. So, you know, I don't think that's on his mind, but I think he wants to build a dynasty of what he's doing, and I think he's off to a great start. Yeah, and WWE is going to do just fine because they're moving the Netflix, and once they get on the Netflix, ratings are irrelevant. And, you know, actually, I kind of think the ratings are just irrelevant period now. Last week, so after all in, after your biggest event of the year, and EW had a rating of about 695,000. Well, that was number one on TV. That was number one on cable TV from the night. The top rated show period. And 693,000 would have been a horrendous rating five years ago, but it's just a different era. I don't think the ratings really even mean much of anything anymore, because TV is so segmented. You know, I have YouTube TV. It doesn't count in the ratings. And if you're streaming it, if you're watching it after, if you're watching it. You know, at a restaurant. I mean, it's not the same as it used to be. Yeah. I don't think anybody's ever going to hit those numbers, like back during the Monday Night Roars when raw and nitro were going at each other. It's almost impossible to hit those because you just don't have enough of an audience that is watching on a rated service. There's so many streaming options that don't even get countered by the ratings. Right. And, you know, it's just great that it's been taking that almost as a sport now. The way they're doing the press conferences at the end of the shows and things of that nature. It's a different element than when I did it because the athletes are being more and more professionals now almost than when I did it. And we didn't have the media hype that they have today. That was a huge difference. We had the magazines and we had the top 500 ratings. And that was pretty much it. My goodness. Today, a guy can go to T and A or go to a double end and he's an overnight sensation. If he does. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Not totally different world. Hey, let's wrap up all in. I did get a chance to talk with just coincidentally my London cab driver. When we went down to see fucking in palace happened to be at all in as well, his name's Tandy. Here's what he had to say about going to all in at Wembley Stadium. Talk to him a little bit outside the cap. Gerald Bentley with wrestling spotlight TV and fired up network. And just to give you a feel from the Londoners perspective. Talking with Tandy, he drives one of those iconic London cab. So let's get a look at this. You only see these in London. They're custom made by the London cab company. TV cab and Tandy, you were there at all in at Wembley Stadium with me yesterday. What was the feel as a Londoner when Will Ospreay came out? He was just passing the whole time. It was very changed. He had the nice entrance. He was amazing. He was nice to see. He was nice to see. Have you been a fan of professional wrestling for a while, like for F-Pro? I have been, I have been, I have been, I have been, I have been, I haven't kept up the date much the last three, four years, you know, family life. Sure. But yeah, big fan. It was nice to see. Stink came out. Stink came out, come out. So, you remember all those legends? Yeah, and lots of Londoners. Nigel McGinnan, Skybad, Guillerre, Zach Saver, Junior, who Brian Danielson talks about being the best professional wrestler in the world. But I think Zach Saver Jr. can give him a run for it. He can give him a run for his money, man. And there's always such good shape, man. Yeah. It's good to be small. It's a boy to watch it live in that way. And then are you excited for them coming? Well, yeah. London, please, Galvie. Are you excited for, for Biddin' Door coming back? I mean, they're bringing in New Japan wrestling next year with a EW and there's always a lot of British wrestlers in New Japan. Yeah. Yep. It's all exciting stuff. It's all exciting stuff. Can't wait. I hope I'm gonna have time for it. All of it. Yeah. And hey, just to get a, just to get a little perspective of where we're at. Tandy, can you tell, tell me where we're at here. This is, this is it, right? This is fucking a palace. Yes. This is the Royal Residence. The main Royal Residence, back in the palace, was definitely there with Queen Elizabeth, but she's no more. Yeah. King Charles is now there. King Charles. Yeah, they had Hanjor, so he's here. And this is, yeah. This is the way it does is magic. And it's, it's right, it's right there off the city street. Right. Right. Right in Nassau. Right in Nassau of, of Mayfair, Victoria. Definitely accessible. And it's a nice thing. You know, the Queen's guidance over there. Full of the roses. You know, if you're into all of that. Yeah. It's, it's nice. It's definitely take a look. It's nice. Definitely take a look. And if, if you're in London and you see one of the iconic London Cabs come by, ask for Tandy. You asked for me. You, you, you might not get me, but ask for me. But any one of us, we've got the same knowledge. We'll be happy to show you around. And it is a treat. Excellent. And we always like using the Cabs, the taxis instead of the overs. They know where they go. They know where they're going. They know where they're going. They know where they're going. They know where they're going. Look where I brought you in right here. You did. You found the palace. I'd still be walking in circles. Definitely. Hey, for wrestling spotlight, I'm Gerald Eltley, thanks. Excellent. Well, there we go. So just a little, a little look at the reaction from a Londoner, one of the iconic London cab drivers. And he was really excited about it. He, we realized as we were driving up to the palace that he, we were both at the same show because he asked why we were in town and got all excited. So it's a good indication. And like I said, I think it's going to come across tremendously well on TV. I haven't watched yet, but it was so loud. It was like being at a soccer match or a football match. Everybody was chatting. They were singing. And they went at it from the beginning of the show all the way to the end. All was to pop like when staying came out. Oh, there was a huge response. A huge response for staying. Huge response for Will Osprey. Jamie Hader, when she made her return back, that got a massive pop as well. And one of the biggest ovations, one of the biggest responses was Nigel McGinnis getting into that casino gauntlet match and making his return to the ring after almost a decade away. And ironically, he ends up getting speared and knocked out of the match by the guy that he's been building up on Saturday night collision all year. Christian Cage. So yeah, a lot of, a lot of, not just English, but a lot of Londoners in the, in the card pack. And Zach Sabre Jr, who I mentioned earlier, he was part of that casino gauntlet match as well. And he had a, a really good showing and you're going to see, I think Zach Sabre Jr factoring in even a little bit more in a w as the year goes on because he's probably the top star in New Japan right now. Yeah, probably so. And one of the best pound profound wrestlers out there, old school technical tactician in the ring. So it's, it's a little bit different style. So he stands out amongst some of the crowds. The other person who I just want to mention before we move on to preview, Bashir Berlin, who made his debut in that casino gauntlet match ricochet. A guy who I think is just made for a w he should be a great fit. And I think he'll be a major player as the year goes on. Well, it's bad talk about he could have an opportunity with WWE at some point. Well, he chose to leave. I think a lot of guys could go back to WWE. I think Swerve wouldn't went back. WWE now again, this is being reported in pro wrestling news. So take, take it for what it's worth. I mean, the fact may be somewhere in the middle here. Supposedly, there's people from WWE saying that Swerve's contract is bad for pro wrestling that he's getting paid too much. But it's a guy who as a heel semi face champion is getting massive responses. Wherever they go, any arena they go to, and he's a younger champion. So it would make sense. If you're looking at pro wrestling like a sport, Swerve's like a quarterback, you're going to pay him. It's like quarterback and football. He's like a striker and soccer. Those are the guys you pay. That's the foundational piece that you want to have to build your team out. So I think it makes perfect sense to give him a big contract. I think so. And I agree with them paying my nays, the money, if you roll your way up the ladder like she's doing, then the money should go to you. And, you know, people who want these overnight people, but it very seldom happens that way. So you've got to earn your way there. Yeah. Well, and I think Daniel Garcia, if he's not already resigned, he's going to get resigned. And that's a young, essentially homegrown talent. Because he came right from the New York independence to AEW. And he's going to have a high profile spot at all out. And I think we'll continue in a high profile, high leverage situation throughout the year. Any, any other matches that jumped out at you. I just really like the staying involvement. I was surprised that they didn't go that long. Darren, his ring involvement because of his retirement, supposedly the of leaving the ring. That match that match did surprise me because it seemed like it was seemed like it was cut short now. You can't have it both ways, right? You can't say the match got cut short, but you're not giving finishing moves. And I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, you can't have it both ways. You can't have it both ways. You can't say, Oh man, that match should have kept going, but then complain that the finishing moves mean nothing. Right. And that's done it all with this with mismatching people in their size is what's given wrestling such the the barrage that everything's fate or or planned down in it. Yeah. You know, I disagree with nitro years ago for having the band. They called the giant and there against your average six footer guy. I mean, that is hard, hard to swallow, but that's like a bad finish to me. Yeah, yeah, sure. Well, and I think it may lead into something else too, because this week on Dynamite, it started out with a pretty cryptic John Moxley promo coming out to his death. I mean, it's going to be his death writer music from New Japan, not wild thing. And telling Tony Shavani, this is not your company anymore. After he said, I need to talk to Darby. So this may be setting up something that's going to spring out of this. Maybe John Moxley and Darby are going to be teaming up. And we saw the problem Marina Shafir also teaming up with Moxley. So I think it may lead to something else. It's not just a short match. So you're going to have to give it a little bit of time to see what develops here because John Moxley was conspicuous by his absence. And as we saw on Wednesday night, he's back. So we'll have to give it a little bit of time to see how that goes. You do. And you can't tell everything thing at one time. So you have to have your shows worked in and it's a process. It's a due process. Yeah. Now, let's go ahead and move over. Tomorrow is bash upper land. It's a WWE premium live event taking place from, obviously, Germany. A little bit different. I do want to ask you this before we get into the card. AEW all in felt like a big deal. The crowd made it feel like a big deal. The length of the card made it feel like a big deal. All the major matches that happened. The ends to feuds, the ends to stories. This event, Bashir Berlin, just kind of seems like a glorified weekly TV show. Do you kind of have that feeling? It just doesn't feel like it's that special with five matches. Well, it depends on the quality of the matches. In my way of thinking, you can have a card with 12 matches and not have the same quality or you can have a card with five. I had five matches and we ran the time so per match and depends on the angle that the producer, that the promoter wants to shoot for. I like the card matches. Yeah, the card itself is fine. It just doesn't seem as, I don't know, a special. And I agree with you, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. I'm looking forward to some upcoming events as well and I want to see some more story nods. Yeah, I mean, the fans in Berlin are going to be going nods and they are kind of tying in when they do these. They're tying the SmackDowns and occasionally the Raw following into the event, so trying to make it more than just one show, they're making it a three part special, really. They do have that in place tonight. You have Nia Jax defending the women's title against Meachin. LA Knight having an open challenge for the US Championship, so they're trying, but I don't know, it doesn't seem. And I guess I consciously say it because you have the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, Summer Slam and WrestleMania are on a different level and then you have the Premium Live events. So I guess it makes sense and it kind of does go together. You're getting five matches on the actual card and just kind of going in order of significance. We don't really know the order of the matches are going to take place. The unholy union. Well, prior and Isla Don going up against Jaycargill and Bianca Belair. You think on a neutral playing field, a fair match. There's no way in the world Jaycargill and Bianca Belair don't win the titles. Do they win the titles or are we going to see the breaking up of Jade and Bianca that everyone's been saying is coming. I'm thinking we're going to seem to breaking up. I think that's played out well past few months, a couple of months. And I think we're going to see more of that. And that's going to come full circle. I think what started to happen the end of these is every show they put on is going to be done like a WrestleMania event. And I think it's going to be a multiple shows at some point to choose from or defend the cheese from I don't think. And in some ways I think that's a good thing, but in some ways that's a bad thing because WrestleMania has always been a big show of the year. But be careful when you play that. >> Well, they are tying them together because I was speaking with, while I was at the AEW celebration on Saturday down at the box park at Wembley, gentlemen, I was standing next to, he came up from Lyon, France, because it was a better value for him to fly to London, get a hotel and go to the AEW event. Then it was to go to the WWE event because they had to buy tickets for both and they sold out almost instantly. So they are definitely tying them together to smack down in the PLA. Now let's go to the match that I think it may not be in the main event, but it's probably the one that's going to have the most significance and the most question as to who's going to win. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, he had a great, he had a great strap match against MJF, not that long ago. >> Yes, sir. And I think we're going to see another black at that. >> Yes, sir. And I think we're going to see another black at that. In my day, the strap match, if I got down to that, was like the final duel that came out on top of that, that was the winner. And in my day, while him with Daniel's didn't lose too many strap matches. >> Yeah, that was especially. Well, this should be the end of this skirmish between the two of them, I would think. I mean, they can always win. I mean, they can always go back at it. This would be CM Punk's fourth match in the year he's been back at WWE. It's been almost a year to the day since he was let go by AEW following all in 2023. So definitely a little bit of a stake on there for CM Punk. I think Drew wins it though, because it's more important for Drew McIntyre to get the win. And move on, I don't think CM Punk needs to win, nor do I think he's going to be in the championship picture in WWE. Let's go to another garage match. You have Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley going up against the new Judgment Day. Dirty Dom and Liv Morgan. Everybody in Berlin, I'm sure, is going to want to see Dirty Dom lose. He's done a good job of being hated. And Liv Morgan's right there with him because Rhea Ripley has a tremendous fan following. Well, I agree with you. And, you know, that's my feeling going into this thing. So we'll just have to wait and see. What comes to be, I'm a Rhea Ripley fan. When I pair her up to Charlotte Flair, I'm a bigger Charlotte Flair fan. But in Charlotte Flair's absence, Rhea Ripley has really ruined the bail in the women's division, I think. Yeah. I think her and Damian get the win here. They're both coming off of losing the championships. Yeah, I think this is a good momentum builder for Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. Let's go to the two heavyweight champions, Gunther. He's from Austria, so it's close to Berlin. He's defending against Randy Orton. And as has been reported and confirmed by Randy, he just signed a five-year extension in the WWE. We talked about how Brian Danielson's not that old to be talking about retiring. Well, Randy Orton's two years older than Brian Danielson. And he just signed a five-year contract. I'm thinking this is going to be an upset. I'm thinking Randy Orton's going to walk away. That's my thought. He's been there a good long time. And I think he's going to get his day. Yeah. And that's getting him another title would get him close to that hallowed ground, getting him right there by the Ric Flair John Cena number of brains. Yes, sir. And that I've heard a spender or two on that, the promoters have mumbled that there could be an end of rain who gets the first kind of deal with being with Ty and Ric Flair. Yeah. Oh, with John Cena and Randy Orton, yeah, they would set it up because this is it for John Cena. He's said this is his last year. And he's gone too, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. Everyone comes back out of retirement. So. Yeah. Now, yeah, I mentioned Reigns. A guy who's conspicuous by his absence on this card is the Tribal Chief himself, Roman Reigns. He's back, but he's not on this card. Cody Rhodes, the American Nightmare, defending the universal title. Again, disputed WWE title against KO Kevin Owens. And Sonny, I think you and I have as much of a chance of winning that undisputed WWE title this week. Well, I'm interested to see more involvement with Roman Reigns. I'm interested to see if he's going to turn baby or not. I think he already has. But I mean, I'm interested to see if it continues out or if it was a one-time involvement. And I enjoy watching him. He's a guy that is so athletic and charismatic. It's kind of like the rock almost. You just got to watch one of you like him or don't like him. Yeah. He has that appeal. And I've been keeping up with him for another while now. So we'll see if he can play both parts. Yeah, I mean, I think it's that bloodline story just keeps going. Paul Hyman said in an interview that they're only in the third inning of the story. And yeah, I kind of believe him. I think you're going to see at some point here that bloodline Civil War, where they're going at each other. And maybe you see a Cody and Roman tag match going up against Solo and Jacob Fatu, which would be really an interesting angle to take. But I had that though. That's all I mentioned. Ring is trying to save Cody. If maybe they were setting up a tag between the two of them and that would be. Well, let's go ahead and we'll head on to weekly champion. Get our champion of the week. First, here's where you're watching us. Hey, what's up guys? This is Tyve Alcarilla. We're at Alocca and you are watching wrestling. There you go. Tyve Alcar. So Sonny, who's your champion of the week? My champion of the week, surprisingly enough this week, is someone that I was never a huge fan of. But he did something really impressive the past few days. And his 80s, I think he's 84s now. Dory Funk Jr. Russell, the match in Japan. Really? Wow. Japan. And I think he deserves to be the champion of the week. I couldn't get a clear outcome as to who won or not. But it doesn't matter. When you climb in the rig and you do your thing, at that age, that's amazing. Well, yeah, now that is. I'm going to go with Swerve Strickland because if you sign a contract that's enough, that the other company says you're making too much money, it's bad for the sport that you want. He lost the EW Championship. But like Mercedes said, money changes everything. Well, he's got the money now. So Swerve's not going anywhere. AEW arenas are going to be Whosehouse, Swerve's house. That's quite a while to come. So congratulations, Swerve. Job well done with the big contract. With that, we'll wrap it up here. Joined by Sonny Domenico Kane. Sonny, where can people follow you? They can follow me on YouTube. Sonny Kane and Sonny Domenico Kane on Instagram. Spotify. And X. A real Sonny Domenico. And we're pushing to get you to that number of followers. And then a little start steam roll in here. So definitely take the time to follow Sonny on X. And take the time to download the TrueTV Plus app so you can find wrestling, spotlight, the fired up network. On any of your smart devices or TVs, it's available everywhere. TrueTV Plus, get it on Apple TV. You can get it on Google Play. You can get it on Chromecast. It's available everywhere. Amazon at Roku as well. For Sonny and Domenico Kane, I'm Gerald Bentley. Thanks for stepping in on weekly champions. Enjoy the bash at Berlin. And we'll be ready for all out coming up next week. Thanks a lot.