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In this episode, we discuss WWE Smackdown, NXT Halloween Havoc, concerns for a WWE Hall of Famer, and TNA Contract news.
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02:41Tonight, recapping some SmackDown.
02:43Talking some NXT.
02:44We've got a lot to cover.
02:45Let's jump in.
02:47SmackDown this week.
02:48Not a bad show.
02:49Opened the show with Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes having a whole throwdown.
02:53Somehow Jimmy Uso gets involved in this whole melee.
02:56I don't really love that tie-in whatsoever.
02:59However, it's going to lead to a match later on.
03:02Jimmy Uso and Drew McIntyre that are going to be fighting in a no-disqualification match.
03:06No build to this.
03:08No nothing.
03:09I understand we're going to have Cody and McIntyre at Saturday Night's Main Event.
03:12That's fine.
03:13But there's so much more that could have been done here.
03:16Solo Sokoa, his faction, JC Mateo Tamatanga, they come out.
03:21They have a tag team match with Shinsuke Nakamura and Rey Fenix.
03:25Hating this a little bit because Rey Fenix is getting buried.
03:27Indeed, let's be honest.
03:28We all are smart enough to know Rey Fenix should be going to Raw and teaming with Penta.
03:33Or Penta coming to SmackDown and teaming with Fenix.
03:35I don't care.
03:36They should be teaming.
03:37What they're doing with Nakamura for the last two, three years has been mind-boggling to me.
03:42I don't understand why they're doing whatever it is that they think they're doing with him.
03:45But at the end of the day, what we're seeing here is we're not seeing the usage the way we probably should be for these talents.
03:52Because let's be honest, they're fantastic.
03:54They can still go in the ring.
03:56They've got a lot to offer.
03:57And they're just not getting anything of substance.
04:01Now, the match itself is fine, I suppose.
04:03You're putting the MFTs over.
04:06We knew that would happen.
04:07And this is a squash match, really.
04:09That's all it is.
04:11But it is what it is.
04:13I guess if you're trying to build that team up to make them legitimate contenders for the Tag Team Championship against the Wyatts,
04:18which is obviously where they're going with this, I guess you have to do some of this.
04:22I just don't feel like Solo is involved in almost anything right now.
04:25And he's supposed to be the leader of the faction.
04:27And he loses the United States Championship.
04:29There's really no follow-up to that.
04:31It's very bland right now to me.
04:34That's just my opinion.
04:35We go from there, and we have the next matchup.
04:39We're forgetting all the backstage stuff.
04:41The next matchup is Tiffany Stratton and Keanu James with Julia.
04:44Obviously, this is going to be a Tiffany Stratton win.
04:47Julia, somewhere down the line, probably gets into the World Championship picture, but it's a little not going to happen right now.
04:52Of course, the end of the match is what becomes intriguing, where we see that we have the big run-in when Tiffany is getting beat down.
05:00We have the big run-in from Jade Cargill, who then goes heel and obliterates Tiffany Stratton.
05:05I feel like a lot of people knew this had to happen at some point.
05:08Jade Cargill is much better as the heel, leaning into the kind of character she played in AEW when she was so dominant there.
05:13I think this is a good move for her, and this is going to set up another match between the two at Saturday Night's main event.
05:19And then we go from there to Ilya Droganov, who has promised to keep these open challenges going for the United States Championship.
05:26And this week's challenger is Aleister Black being led to the ring by his real-life wife, Zelina Vega, for the U.S. Championship.
05:32Match is going well.
05:33Great match.
05:34Back and forth.
05:34I enjoyed the match.
05:36The ending, I think, was just what you needed.
05:38You've got to keep everybody strong.
05:40Droganov is a new champion.
05:41It has to stay strong.
05:41Aleister Black can't win the title this early, but you don't want to beat him either.
05:45And he's already in a feud, so what do you have?
05:47You hit the music, Damian Priest comes out for the distraction, leading to Droganov picking up the win, and then a big melee brawl between Priest and Black after the match.
05:55I think this was very well done.
05:56I think it served a purpose, and it accomplished everything that was necessary.
06:00When we get to the no disqualification match, the real main event of the evening, I wish they'd do something of more substance for main events for SmackDown.
06:08I think Raw does an okay job.
06:10I think SmackDown kind of has dropped the ball recently.
06:13McIntyre, Uso, no disqualification.
06:14The match is solid, I suppose.
06:16No need, really, for the no disqualification part of it.
06:20I feel like they missed an opportunity to do some really cool stuff here.
06:24The ending, seeing the Uso splash attempt, which McIntyre then sees coming.
06:30McIntyre hits Jimmy with the chair, hits a Claymore, picks up the win.
06:34When he goes to threaten to break Jimmy's neck using the chair, Cody runs out, and of course Cody is going to make the save and then eat a Claymore himself and get laid out.
06:44I thought SmackDown was pretty solid top to bottom, but it wasn't anything that wowed me.
06:48It wasn't anything that brought, you know, there was no major memories made from that show, except maybe the Jade Cargill turn, which is big, I suppose.
06:56But I think, again, it's like a lot of WWE booking lately, we all can see it coming.
06:59So I don't feel like it has the same pizzazz as it probably could have had a few months ago had they done the exact same thing.
07:07Let's jump into some other news.
07:09CM Punk was speaking on a WWE vlog where he mentioned that he's coming down near the end of his career.
07:18This is the first time we've heard him really have that conversation.
07:21He said, you know, John Cena's calling it quick.
07:22AJ Styles says he's going to retire next year, and I don't know how much time I've got left.
07:26I'm going to keep going until the wheels fall off, but I know that it's sooner rather than later.
07:30So I think it's another one of those people, like I feel like we're getting hit with this barrage of all these people who want to leave.
07:37And it's really a shame because there's so much, so many more matches, dream matches we haven't seen yet, even now with him, that I hope we don't miss the opportunity to see.
07:49Because there's so, so, so much they can do with someone as versatile as CM Punk.
07:55Let's jump into some of the weird news of the week.
07:57But Dave Meltzer was offering an update from Wrestling Observer Newsletter about the AI integration in WWE.
08:03The word came out last week that they're going to be using AI in some way, shape, or form in terms of creative.
08:08I think it was probably blown way out of proportion for now at least.
08:11It sounded like they were using it to try to determine how frequently talent have exchanged matches, had feuds, things like that.
08:17And to give some basic input, Meltzer kind of compared it to a writer's assistant position.
08:22But even that could be problematic if you're eliminating jobs for people who previously would have been applying to be the writer's assistants and things of that nature, if their job is now going to a computer doing an AI program.
08:34So that's a little strange.
08:35But it's being said that WWE is very frustrated with how the story broke.
08:40There was a report last week that said that one example of how AI was being used is that former WWE star Bobby Lashley was being brought back as a character obsessed with Japanese culture, even though he doesn't even work for them anymore.
08:54So obviously their AI program has a long way to go.
08:58But I think it's not surprising.
09:00There was actually reference that they've been using AI in some way, shape, or form for several years now and that this is nothing new.
09:05It's just not what people initially made it out to be.
09:07They're not looking to, like, replace writers and have the computers write everything for them.
09:11And that's kind of the way it came out.
09:12Maybe in the future that could be the case.
09:13But right now, certainly not.
09:16I did see a report, e-wrestling news, about Bullet Club.
09:20There was some conversation because WWE referenced the term Bullet Club during the John Cena vs. AJ Styles match in Crown Jewel Perth.
09:29And not a problem using the term.
09:31And New Japan Pro Wrestling retains the intellectual property of the Bullet Club.
09:36However, they let the wrestlers who have been in the club use the term relatively easily.
09:40Oh, and other promotions.
09:41They have no problem with that.
09:43It's just if somebody was going to sell merchandise or market the name Bullet Club, then it has to go through New Japan Pro Wrestling.
09:48That's kind of the approach they've taken.
09:50Good for them.
09:51And it was nice to be able to see something like that referenced in a WWE perspective because it's not something we see very frequently.
09:57So, very interesting stuff.
09:59So, obviously, WWE using the name and with all the speculation about, you know, Tanahashi's last match and could Shinsuke go there.
10:08You know, using words like that and referencing New Japan Pro Wrestling.
10:11Even last year when we saw The Rock come out on Twitter and he was wearing a New Japan Pro Wrestling t-shirt.
10:16Could be something that factors into a relationship building opportunity between WWE and New Japan.
10:21Don't see it happening anytime soon.
10:22But I certainly would not be opposed to that Nakamura-Tanahashi match.
10:25If silly things like this can help that happen, I'm all in favor of it.
10:28So, let's talk Candice LeRae off TV since September, but now she's got a new role.
10:32She is training to be a producer backstage.
10:35Apparently, she's put together some of the pre-Smackdown taping matches.
10:38Recently, a Street Profits-Los Garza match in Tempe, Arizona.
10:41She's been working for WWE main event.
10:44And this seems like a natural progression for her.
10:45She's not wrestling as frequently anymore.
10:48So, this is a great opportunity for them to take a talent that is familiar with their system and really bring them up to snuff and up to speed.
10:54Doing something more relevant for the company going forward and give her a role so she's not just going to be drifting off into the sunset and no longer wrestle.
11:02Which often happens to some of the female talent when they get to a certain age.
11:05Which people have complained about for years in various female talents.
11:07You know, men wrestle in their 40s, 50s, even Sting, 60s, Flair, 70s.
11:12And the women, once you hit like 35, nobody wants anything to do with you.
11:15So, it's great to see WWE taking some steps to offer employment to the ladies who have given so much to the industry and be a part of something going forward.
11:24Let's go to some not-so-happy news.
11:26Abdullah the Butcher, WWE Hall of Famer, the madman from Sudan, is not doing so well.
11:31He's in the hospital.
11:32He's got some serious medical conditions.
11:34He's had several before.
11:35He's 84 years old.
11:36He's not a spring chicken by any stretch.
11:38TMZ confirmed the report.
11:40He's back in the hospital.
11:41Steve Stasiak is his agent and put out that he needs your prayers and well wishes because he's having some serious health issues.
11:49No report yet on what those issues are, but certainly there is something going on out there.
11:54I mean, from here, we're going to totally change direction and go back to TNA Wrestling.
11:58See, we're all over the place tonight trying to get it all in while NXT is taking place right now.
12:04Halloween Havoc.
12:05We'll get to that in a few seconds.
12:07Contracts.
12:08The Rascals.
12:08Contracts coming due at the end of 2025.
12:11Myron Reed.
12:12Apparently, his contract, he's been hanging with the Rascals.
12:15His ran out in August.
12:16All still wrestling for TNA for now.
12:19I guess we'll have to wait and see if they retain their services.
12:21Apparently, they want to retain them.
12:22And then it gets to Matt and Jeff Hardy.
12:24Their contracts.
12:24They're supposed to expire in November.
12:26Now, the word is, is the TNA president, Carlos Silva, wants to retain Matt and Jeff.
12:31He put a post out saying, it's a quote,
12:34Thank you, Matt and Jeff, for being a part of this TNA team.
12:37Such a pleasure to work with you and look forward to many years of positive vibes together.
12:40So, clearly, he's feeling very encouraged about what they could possibly do.
12:44But, there is also conversation right now about what has been described as insane money offers being put together for an appearance at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia 2027.
12:54So, obviously, if they sign something long-term with TNA, they're going to be considering that, WWE's money, when it comes to that huge WrestleMania in Saudi.
13:02Because you know that's something the Saudi Crown Prince is going to want to have there.
13:07So, obviously, they've got a lot of options coming up.
13:09And their contract is coming up very, very soon.
13:10I don't know that WWE would want them on a full-time schedule.
13:13But it would not be a bad thing for their Raw tag team division if nowhere else.
13:16But we'll have to wait and see.
13:18And then, heading into the NXT conversation.
13:20A lot going on tonight.
13:21The show is still going on.
13:22I don't want to spoil too, too much.
13:24If you don't want to hear spoilers, cut the video off right now.
13:27We'll see you next episode.
13:28But if you're okay with some of the spoilers, let's get into it a little bit.
13:30I think one of the coolest things we have to talk about is the fact that tonight, on NXT's Halloween Havoc episode, they talked and announced that there's going to be a two-week NXT Gold Rush special event.
13:45Tuesday, November 18th and Tuesday, November 25th.
13:47You're going to see championships defended from NXT, also TNA Wrestling, AAA, Lucha Libre Worldwide, WWE Evolved.
13:55Who knows what else they may add between now and then.
13:57Were I them, if you really wanted to blow people's minds, I'd bring in people like Pro Wrestling Noah, since you have a great relationship there.
14:02And anybody else you could bring in.
14:04But the Gold Rush is coming back.
14:05They announced that tonight ahead of the pay-per-view.
14:08And then, of course, the pay-per-view itself.
14:10Like I said, if you don't want spoilers, this is not the place for you because I'm going to say some things that happened tonight already on the show if you didn't get the chance to check out the pay-per-view.
14:16I've got to say, I love the fact that we got to see Mr. Iguana and Leparka in a WWE ring again.
14:23Fantastic time watching the match.
14:25Some really goofy spots, but that's kind of what people like Mr. Iguana and Leparka are for.
14:29Javon Edge Evans and Leon Slater coming out the victors.
14:32What a great match.
14:33Entertaining.
14:34Those two are just connected to the crowd in a way that I can't even describe.
14:38Fantastic stuff.
14:39Both have bright futures.
14:40And I'm so thrilled that they're getting an opportunity to really showcase that in a meaningful way.
14:44And that the fans are so, so open to having them be, like, literally faces of NXT and TNA.
14:49It's a beautiful thing.
14:51Ethan Page, El Hijo Day, Dr. Wagner Jr. for the NXT North American Championship.
14:55I actually would have loved to have seen the title change here.
14:59They did not do that.
14:59Ethan Page retains the championship.
15:02Not thrilled with the outcome, but at least I understand it.
15:04Page is doing a great job with the championship.
15:06I really want to see him on the main roster.
15:07I think that's my biggest hold-up with him.
15:09So, going into the Women's North American Championship match, a little weird for me.
15:13The whole Sol Roka not being able to defend it.
15:17Zaria doing it for her, that kind of thing.
15:19Zaria, so, against Blake Monroe.
15:22I don't think anybody would have seen anybody but Blake Monroe winning this match.
15:26I think it's the only thing that makes sense.
15:28Which is exactly what happens.
15:30Blake Monroe wins the championship.
15:31But, Sol Roka does get involved physically on the outside of the ring.
15:34They DDT her, go in the ring, hit him on DDT, pin, win the championship.
15:38Blake Monroe is off and running as the new NXT Women's North American Champion.
15:43Which I think is overdue.
15:44I actually thought they might have put the NXT Women's Championship on her right away.
15:47This gives her a little bit of time before that has to become a reality.
15:51And whenever she is ready for that, she may be able to do that against Tatum Paxley.
15:56The new NXT Women's Championship.
15:58Defeating J.C. Jane tonight.
16:01Interesting.
16:02I have no problem.
16:03I think J.C. Jane had the belt for probably a little too long for my taste.
16:08Not because I don't have respect for her talent.
16:09I really do.
16:11But I think there's a lot there that they could do with other women.
16:15And I think J.C. Jane has worked with enough of them that you need to get something fresh in there.
16:18Get some new pairings in there for the premium prize in NXT for the Women's Division.
16:23The Broken Hardys taking on Dark State.
16:26That is going on right now.
16:27I'm not going to say anything about it because the match is not over.
16:30And then the main event tonight will be Ricky Saints and Trick Williams for the NXT Championship.
16:33I suspect that Ricky Saints retains there.
16:35Obviously, I think the Hardys retain in their match.
16:38But we'll have to wait and see.
16:39It's a broken rules match for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
16:42We'll see.
16:43But that is all the time we have for this episode.
16:46Check out our next episode.
16:47We run down the latest wrestling news and rumors.
16:49Special thanks, as always, go out to Suno AI for generating music and sound effects we use in our show.
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17:17I'm Fred Froelich, better known as Dr. Fro.
17:19I want to thank you so much for taking some time with us tonight.
17:21Until next time, take care, everybody.
17:23Have a great night.
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