Episode Notes — Maxxed Out (Nov 25, 2025)

This week on Maxxed Out, we’re rolling straight into Thanksgiving week and the final stretch toward Survivor Series: WarGames 2025. Joe and Jose are joined by returning friend of the show Anthony D. Vaughn for a packed breakdown of WWE SmackDown, Raw, and the Road to WarGames.

We dive into:

• Ilja Dragunov’s rise as U.S. Champion and why he might be WWE’s next breakout workhorse
• The women’s division booking struggles, Asian champions discourse, and why open challenges would fix a lot
• The John Cena: The Last Time Is Now Tournament — the wins, the misses, and the emotional weight of Cena’s final run
• Carmelo Hayes’ near-moment, Gunther’s dominance, and concerns around Triple H’s booking patterns
• Faction tension across WWE: MFTs, The Wyat Six, The Vision, plus the WarGames implications
• SmackDown’s upcoming classic Survivor Series elimination match
• The women’s WarGames lineup, internal betrayals brewing, and who might steal the show
• Dom Mysterio’s rise as a generational heel and why he may become one of WWE’s all-time greats
• AEW notes including Penta’s injury update and Samoa Joe’s big championship moment

We wrap with predictions for Survivor Series: WarGames on November 29 and tease an upcoming full John Cena career episode with Anthony.

Hit play, subscribe on Spotify & YouTube, and stay Maxxed Out!

Show Notes:

John Cena stepped inside Madison Square Garden one last time — and we’re breaking down every major moment from his final RAW appearance. From capturing the Intercontinental Championship to the rematch setup with Dominik Mysterio, this episode covers the full story behind Cena’s farewell run and what it means heading into Survivor Series: WarGames.

We also dive into everything happening across WWE right now:

• All major title changes since mid-October

• SmackDown and RAW storyline updates

• Survivor Series builds, WarGames team rumors

• The John Cena Retirement Tournament shaping WWE’s winter storylines

• We end the show talking about WWE LJN Toys

Whether you missed a month of shows or want the cleanest recap out there, this episode gets you caught up fast.

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This week on Maxxed Out, we break down the shocking betrayal of Seth Rollins and the fallout that left the World Heavyweight Championship vacant. After an ambush by The Vision, the title scene has been flipped upside down — and now the stage is set for CM Punk vs. Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

We also dive into the latest WWE chaos: Cody Rhodes’ meltdown after Crown Jewel, Ilja Dragunov’s rise as U.S. Champion, Becky Lynch’s controversial title defense, and the growing tension between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu. With multiple belts on the line this weekend, the landscape of WWE could change overnight.

Hit play for hot takes, storyline breakdowns, and predictions heading into Saturday Night’s Main Event. Stay locked in — and keep it Maxxed Out!

This week on Maxxed Out, we cover all the biggest stories shaking up WWE:

• The SmackDown botch by Nia Jax that has fans buzzing after Sept 27th.
• Roman Reigns showing up on RAW (Sept 29) and what it means for the Bloodline’s future.
• Why LA Knight needs a WWE Title run sooner than later.
• Jacob Fatu kicking off a feud with Drew McIntyre.
• Dominik Mysterio proving once again why he’s one of the best heels in the game — this time vs. Rusev.
• Previewing SmackDown on Oct 3rd: Cody & Randy vs. The Vision.
• Plus, we celebrate the birthday of a legend: Yokozuna.

From botches to big returns, surprise feuds to title talk, we’re covering it all. Hit play and stay Maxxed Out.

This week on Maxxed Out, we’re covering one of the most talked-about weekends in wrestling. From the shocking fallout of Wrestlepalooza to the absolute demolition of John Cena at the hands of Brock Lesnar, nothing is off the table.

Dez joins the show to break down the aftermath of AEW All Out, including what it means for the company moving forward. We also dive into the latest happenings on RAW and SmackDown, the buzz surrounding an upcoming Macho Man biopic, and Stephanie McMahon’s Hall of Fame induction.

And of course, we celebrate this week’s wrestling birthdays: Stephanie McMahon, Asuka, Matt Hardy, and Kairi Sane.

If you love wrestling hot takes, nostalgic deep cuts, and weekly breakdowns, this is your spot. Hit play and stay Maxxed Out.

AJ Lee is BACK. And she’s not alone—Wrestlepalooza is stacked, AEW’s firing shots before All Out, and we’ve got big questions about Jey Uso’s next move. Is he finally turning heel?

In this week’s Maxxed Out, we break down:

• AJ Lee’s surprise return and what it means for the women’s division
• Full Wrestlepalooza match previews 🔥
• Was AJ Styles’ promo a legit shoot? Or just master-level kayfabe?
• AEW updates with @RealThirstyMan
• Birthday love for Paul Heyman — The Advocate, the Wiseman, the Oracle himself

We don’t hold back. Buckle up and hit play.

The dust has settled on Clash in Paris 2025, and the fallout is shaking WWE to its core. Seth Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Title, but it was Becky Lynch’s shocking alignment with The Vision that stole the headlines. From her interference in the Fatal 4-Way to whispers of an AJ Lee return, The Man is suddenly at the center of WWE’s most talked-about storyline.

We break down:

• Becky Lynch’s game-changing move and what it means for Rollins, CM Punk, and the road to Wrestlepalooza.
• Kevin Nash’s blunt take that Becky’s run has “passed her by.”
• The fan buzz around AJ Lee’s possible return and how it could reshape Punk vs. The Vision.
• John Cena’s emotional win, Roman Reigns’ concerning aftermath, and Rusev’s fiery Donnybrook victory.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Raul Rodriguez, a lifelong wrestling fan whose passion for the sport will always be remembered. Raul, this one’s for you.

This week on Maxxed Out, we dive into one of the most shocking incidents in recent pro wrestling memory. At a KnokX Pro Wrestling event, Raja Jackson turned a planned sequence into a brutal shoot attack on Stuart Smith, leaving Smith hospitalized with serious injuries. We unpack what really happened, the blurred line between storyline and reality, and how this impacts the reputation of indie wrestling.

From there, we shift gears to the Road to Clash in Paris:

• AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door fallout and what’s next.
• WWE’s European crowds and the energy leading into fall season.
• Adam Pearce’s silence on the Women’s Championship picture.
• Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed updates.
• Mercedes Moné winning her 9th title — and the fan backlash.
• Birthday shoutouts to Sgt. Slaughter, Jeff Hardy, and Athena.

Controversy, international hype, and championship chaos — it’s another stacked week in wrestling, and we’ve got it all covered.