🔥 TWO GOOD HOURS… ONE BIG PROBLEM: LOYALTY

Sometimes a show gives you just enough to care…

…and just enough to remind you why you’re frustrated in the first place.

⸻

This week, SmackDown actually worked—for about two hours.

Things were moving. Stories had direction. It felt like the show finally understood what mattered.

And then that third hour hit…

…and everything fell right back into the same problems.

⸻

Meanwhile, RAW continues to feel like the show that actually knows what it is.

Which makes the gap between the two brands impossible to ignore.

⸻

And then there’s the bigger story.

Because while SmackDown was trying to figure itself out…

WWE was quietly showing you exactly what it is now.

⸻

👉 Departures vs “fired” — what people are getting wrong 👉 The New Day situation — and why it says everything about the current system 👉 Why loyalty in WWE doesn’t mean what it used to 👉 And what that means for the future of the roster

⸻

🎙️ PLUS:

• Cody Rhodes vs Ricky Saints — debut done right • Gunther enters the main event scene (finally) • Jacy Jayne gets the rocket push • Tag division actually showing signs of life • Solo, Fatu & The Usos — a power struggle worth watching • Danhausen ❤️ (and why people complaining don’t get wrestling) • Sami Zayn vs Trick Williams — funny… but pushing the limit

⸻

And now?

Backlash is this Saturday.

No more building.

No more setup.

👉 It’s time to deliver.

⸻

🎙️ If you’re a real wrestling fan who cares about:

👉 storytelling 👉 character direction 👉 and where WWE is actually going…

you’re in the right place.

⸻

📲 FOLLOW / SUPPORT THE SHOW

If we earned it… leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon — it helps more than you think.

Follow for weekly episodes covering RAW, SmackDown, and every PLE.

⸻

🔥 JOIN THE TTW DISCORD

Be part of the TTW community:

• Live PLE watch-alongs • Real-time reactions • Unfiltered wrestling debates

Chapters

00:00Tribute to the Gingerbread Man

03:09Backlash Build-Up and SmackDown Review

05:29Confusion in the Tag Team Division

08:17Cody Rhodes and Ricky Starks' Debut

10:57Jacey Jane's Rise and Women's Division Dynamics

13:29Tag Team Championship Recognition

16:17Mafia Dynamics in the Bloodline Storyline

35:30Cody Rhodes vs. Ricky Starks: A Match of Expectations

37:19Gunther's Impact on SmackDown: A New Era Begins

40:56Danhausen's Comedy and the Miz: Keeping the Curse Alive

45:16The Gingerbread Man: A Unique Storyline for Sami Zayn

54:12Main Event Analysis: Usos vs. Solo and Tala Tonga

01:06:30Reflections on SmackDown's Quality

01:08:44Previewing Backlash Matches

01:10:00Concerns Over Roman Reigns' Future

01:14:42Impact of Recent Releases

01:20:31The State of Tag Team Wrestling

01:27:54The Future of WWE and AEW

WWE feels like two completely different companies right now.

RAW is building momentum, creating direction, and setting the stage for Backlash…

while SmackDown feels disconnected, directionless, and completely out of sync.

On top of that?

WWE just made a wave of talent releases that raise even bigger questions about what this company actually is right now.

This episode breaks down:

• Why RAW feels like it’s moving forward • Why SmackDown feels completely lost • What the recent WWE releases actually mean • And why this company feels split in half heading into Backlash

This is where we figure out what’s actually working… and what’s completely broken.

00:00Introduction and Overview of SmackDown After Mania

03:10The Disconnect Between Raw and SmackDown

05:25Debuts and Expectations

07:35The Quality of SmackDown

10:18NXT Call-Ups and Title Changes

13:01Releases and Their Impact

15:46The Future of SmackDown

18:23Analyzing Recent Releases

20:36Triple H's Role and Future

23:30Monday Night Raw Review

26:08Roman Reigns and the Usos

28:43Seth Rollins and Braun Breaker

39:24Promo Exchanges and Character Development

42:32Backlash Match Predictions

44:13Intercontinental Championship Dynamics

51:28Becky Lynch's Title Reign and Open Challenge

55:14Asuka vs. Io Sky Feud

58:38Women's Division Challenges and Opportunities

01:03:00LA Knight and Bloodline Dynamics

01:04:42Joe Hendry's Concert and Logan Paul's Response

01:06:27Logan Paul's Chaos and the Street Profits' Intervention

01:08:42The Future of Hendry and the SmackDown vs. Raw Debate

01:11:22Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano: A Lucha Libre Showcase

01:15:27Oba Femi's Open Challenge: A Double-Edged Sword

01:32:00Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu: A Tense Confrontation

01:37:34The Aftermath: Setting the Stage for Backlash

01:39:48Character Dynamics in Wrestling

01:41:22Future Feuds and Storylines

01:43:55The State of SmackDown

01:49:13MVPs and Highlights of Recent Shows

01:55:46The Impact of the Bloodline Storyline

RAW AFTER WRESTLEMANIA didn’t give us the big surprise returns…

…but it gave us something way more important.

👉 direction.

⸻

Oba Femi didn’t celebrate… he arrived.

CM Punk delivered one of the most real promos we’ve seen in a long time… and Cody Rhodes stepped into it with a completely different energy.

The Intercontinental scene didn’t reset — it continued, and that matters.

Sol Ruca didn’t feel like a call-up… she felt like she belongs.

Brock Lesnar?

That didn’t feel like a send-off.

That felt like the end.

⸻

And by the end of the night…

you could actually see the board being set.

Rollins vs Breakker. Roman vs Jacob. The Vision vs The Street Profits.

⸻

👉 Backlash is already starting to take shape…

…and it might be a banger show.

⸻

🎧 Follow the show on Apple, Spotify & Amazon Music ⭐ If we earned it… leave us a 5-star rating

⸻

👉 Follow me — Alexander the Great — @Froe87 on X & TikTok

🔥 Join the TTW Discord

• Live PLE watch-alongs • Real-time reactions • Unfiltered wrestling debates

Chapters

00:00Welcome to Season Three of TTW

01:56OBA's Impact and the Raw After Mania

04:21Women's Tag Team Action: Rhea Ripley and Io Sky

07:39Backstage Segments and Future Directions

09:23Ethan Page's Debut and IC Title Scene

13:18CM Punk and Cody Rhodes: A Contrasting Promo

22:56Ego vs. Javon Evans: Building on WrestleMania Feuds

24:49Danhausen's Hilarious Merchandise Segment

27:04WWE Hall of Fame and Character Dynamics

28:19Liv Morgan's Title Celebration and Sol Ruka's Debut

31:54Brock Lesnar: The End of an Era

35:12Brock Lesnar's Retirement Controversy

44:13Paul Heyman and the Future of Gunther

45:34Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breaker: Setting the Stage

50:57Finn Balor vs. JD McDonough: A Personal Rivalry

52:14WrestleMania Aftermath: Match Reflections

53:20Gunther's Direction: A Lack of Clarity

55:48Raw After Mania: A Purposeful Reset

59:47The Bloodline Saga: New Dynamics and Challenges

01:02:29Roster Changes: New Faces and Future Directions

01:15:06Looking Ahead: Backlash and Future Storylines

🚨 COMMERCIALMANIA. 🚨

That’s what WrestleMania 42 felt like.

Not because the matches were bad…

but because WWE forgot what WrestleMania is supposed to BE.

Night 1?

👉 Rushed 👉 Cut short 👉 Completely stripped of that WrestleMania feel

Night 2?

👉 Better 👉 More complete 👉 Still dealing with the SAME problems

We’re breaking down:

👉 Why the matches felt rushed 👉 How the commercials KILLED the flow of the show 👉 Why the biggest feuds didn’t get the time they deserved 👉 And what this version of WrestleMania says about where WWE is going

We’re talking:

👉 Brock Lesnar vs Oba Femi — and a SUPERSTAR being MADE 👉 The ladder match that blew Night 1 out of the water 👉 Sami vs Trick and how they wasted a perfect opportunity 👉 Demon Balor vs Dom — and why it felt pointless 👉 Jade vs Rhea — the ONE match that got the length right 👉 Cody vs Orton — and the confusing double-turn energy 👉 Punk vs Roman — a real WrestleMania main event

And the bigger question:

👉 Has WWE lost the feel of WrestleMania?

Chapters

00:00Introduction to WrestleMania 42

08:17Match Breakdown: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu

14:11Women's Tag Team Championship Match Analysis

20:16AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch: A Missed Opportunity

27:09Seth Rollins vs. Gunther: A Highlight of the Night

35:48Intense Showdown: Rollins vs. Gunther

47:14Commercial Mania: The Impact of Advertisements on Matches

52:56Bianca Belair's Return and Future Prospects

01:00:35Main Event Analysis: Orton vs. Rhodes

01:10:57Cody's Injury and Its Impact

01:20:39Brock Lesnar's Emotional Retirement

01:28:31IC Title Ladder Match Highlights

01:35:00Sammy vs. Trick Williams: Missed Opportunities

01:43:17WrestleMania Night 1 vs Night 2 Comparison

01:54:17Rhea Ripley vs Jade Cargill: Women's Championship Match

02:04:46Danhausen's WrestleMania Moment

02:09:51Main Event: CM Punk vs Roman Reigns

02:15:29The Match of a Lifetime: Analyzing the Main Event

02:30:09WrestleMania 42: A Mixed Bag of Emotions

WrestleMania weekend is here.

And before the lights hit… before the entrances… before the first bell rings…

this is the moment where everything still feels possible.

⸻

In this episode, we’re keeping it simple.

We crack open The TTW Vault and run through: 👉 the greatest in-ring WrestleMania matches ever 👉 the most iconic WrestleMania main events 👉 the moments that made this weekend feel bigger than wrestling

…and then we lock in our official WrestleMania 42 predictions.

⸻

Who’s walking out a champion? Who’s getting their moment? And who is WWE actually ready to go all in on?

⸻

📲 FOLLOW / SUPPORT THE SHOW

If we earned it… leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon.

Follow for weekly episodes covering RAW, SmackDown, and every PLE.

⸻

📲 FOLLOW — ALEXANDER THE GREAT X & TikTok: @Froe87

🔥 JOIN THE TTW DISCORD • Live PLE watch-alongs • Real-time reactions • Unfiltered wrestling debates.

The Discord Link is on our podcast homepage and on all of Alexander the Great's socials!

Chapters

00:00WrestleMania Weekend Excitement

02:04Nostalgia: Top WrestleMania Matches

04:43In-Ring Match Highlights

12:07Iconic WrestleMania Moments

20:11The Greatest WrestleMania Main Events

30:39The Count Controversy

31:36Iron Man Match Breakdown

33:09Shawn Michaels: The Showstopper

34:33The Evolution of Shawn Michaels

36:33The Hogan-Michaels Feud

37:54Historic Women's Main Event

39:40Daniel Bryan's Triumph at WrestleMania 30

41:03Crowd Dynamics in Wrestling

42:30WrestleMania 17: Austin vs. The Rock

44:42The Impact of Austin's Heel Turn

48:42WrestleMania 20: A Triple Threat Masterpiece

51:32Benoit and Eddie: A Legacy Remembered

54:36The Hall of Fame Debate

59:29Cody vs. Roman: The Story Concludes

01:00:53WrestleMania Nostalgia and Iconic Matches

01:02:23Predictions for WrestleMania Night One

01:06:47Analyzing Unsanctioned Matches and Their Stakes

01:10:24Women's Tag Team Championship Dynamics

01:17:09Intercontinental Championship Predictions

01:22:02Main Event Speculations and Stakes

01:23:38Night Two Predictions and Key Matches

01:29:59CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns: The Final Showdown

WrestleMania is right here.

And when we actually look at the full board…

we don’t know if everything connects the way it should.

🎙️ The WrestleMania Board Check

This isn’t a recap.

This is us stepping back and looking at the full picture—

SmackDown, the go-home RAW, and what still needs to happen before WrestleMania.

SmackDown had a chance to build momentum.

It didn’t.

The go-home RAW?

It was fine.

Not bad.

Not great.

Just fine.

And “fine”…

this close to WrestleMania…

isn’t good enough.

So now it all comes down to one thing—

what still needs to happen before WrestleMania.

We get into:

👉 SmackDown — what it already did (and didn’t do)

👉 The go-home RAW — what it gave us and what it didn’t

👉 CM Punk vs Roman Reigns — the final face-to-face

👉 Iyo, Liv, and the women’s division — where things stand

👉 What the FINAL SmackDown needs to do

👉 The full WrestleMania board — what works and what still doesn’t

What actually matters right now?

What feels important?

And what still needs to hit before WrestleMania?

Chapters

00:00WrestleMania Build-Up and Expectations

06:27Feuds and Missed Opportunities

12:28Ticket Sales and Audience Reception

39:14The Impact of Ticket Sales on Wrestling Events

47:23Analyzing the 25% Ticket Discount Announcement

52:24Expectations for WrestleMania and Potential Shenanigans

01:06:09Balancing Sponsorships and Wrestling Integrity

01:11:50Go Home Raw Review

01:18:28Eoskai vs. Kyrie Zane Match Analysis

01:28:48Usos and MFTs Match Review

01:38:26Building Dominance: Gunther's Future Feuds

01:43:17Oba's Contract Signing: A Defining Moment

01:49:38The Ladder Match Chaos: A Mixed Bag

01:54:35Finn Balor vs. Dom Mysterio: Missed Opportunities

02:00:31Final Thoughts: WrestleMania Build-Up and Expectations

02:05:59The Irony of Wrestling Promos

02:12:51Respect and Rivalry: Punk vs. Reigns

02:31:15Anticipation and Concerns for WrestleMania

02:43:08Closing Thoughts and Future Predictions

🔥 YOU FELT THAT TOO… RIGHT?

Sometimes… something shifts.

Not in the story.

Not in the matches.

In the feeling of the show.

This week on RAW… something pushed back.

CM Punk didn’t just cut a promo—

👉 he said things you’re not supposed to say 👉 he went after the system 👉 and for the first time in a long time… WWE reacted

Because this episode isn’t about results.

It’s about:

👉 why that Punk segment felt different 👉 what it exposed about WWE & TKO 👉 why Cody vs Orton is already being changed 👉 and why WrestleMania suddenly feels like a test

🎙️ ON THIS EPISODE:

• CM Punk’s pipebomb — what he really said (and why it mattered)

• WWE reacting in real time — and what that tells us

• LA Knight / The Vision — why this HAS to end at WrestleMania

• Dominik vs Finn — finally getting real • AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch — simple, effective, personal

• Bayley segment — overbooking is starting to hurt

• Rhea / Jade — why this feud still isn’t hitting

• Penta / Ladder match — insane, but missing one key piece • Vaquer vs Liv — this turned into a REAL fight

• Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar — how you make a star

• WrestleMania board — what WWE is actually trying to do

Chapters

00:00Podcast Format Changes

08:34WWE's Creative Response

24:31LA Knight and the Usos Feud

36:35Finn Balor vs. JD McDonough

41:47AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch: A Clash of Generations

51:26The Evolution of Women's Championships

01:03:15Danhausen's Unique Segment and Its Reception

01:09:26Navigating the Gunther vs. Rollins Dilemma

01:14:46Jade Cargill's Impact on Rhea Ripley

01:24:55Rey Mysterio's Return and Its Implications

01:31:45Judgment Day's Feud with Liv Morgan and Roxanne

01:38:27The Feud: Liv vs. Stephanie

01:49:01Predictions and Stakes for WrestleMania

01:52:41Brock Lesnar vs. Oba: The Build-Up

02:05:15Creative Direction and WrestleMania Expectations

02:10:19The Legacy of Brock Lesnar

02:16:02Building Oba's Character and Future

02:22:00The Importance of Storytelling in Wrestling

02:30:03Celebrity Involvement in Wrestling Events

02:40:10The Future of Wrestling Promotion

Sometimes the things you love stop loving you back,

For us, its our first love that stopped loving us back.

This isn't the WWE that I fell in love with.

This isn’t WWE anymore ...

And that’s not just a hot take… it’s starting to feel real.

This week on Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down a SmackDown that should have been building one of the most personal WrestleMania main events in years…

…and somehow turned into something completely different.

Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes should feel like history. Legacy. Violence built on 15–20 years of storytelling.

Instead?

We get outside noise. We get distractions. We get decisions that don’t feel like they came from the people who understand wrestling.

And that’s where the real conversation starts.

Because this episode isn’t just about Orton turning heel… it’s about what that moment means in the bigger picture.

Is WWE telling the story?

Or is something else pulling the strings?

We break down:

🐍 Randy Orton’s heel turn — and why it still works despite everything around it 🩸 Cody Rhodes saying what everyone is thinking — and then walking it back 🎤 The Pat McAfee reveal — and why it made a massive story feel smaller 🧠 The growing concern around TKO influence and WrestleMania direction 🔥 Why this build feels overbooked… when it should feel personal

Because this is the tension right now:

WWE is hotter than ever. Business is booming. WrestleMania keeps breaking records.

…but the soul of the product?

That’s the question.

This isn’t a recap.

This is about storytelling, creative direction, and whether WWE is still WWE — or something else entirely.

NERDS OF THE TTW CLAN… this one might piss you off.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Amazon Music ⭐ If we earned your listen… leave us 5 stars

Chapters

00:00The Disappointment of SmackDown

03:34The Pat McAfee Reveal: A Missed Opportunity

06:45Cody Rhodes' Response and Legacy Discussion

09:38The Role of Celebrities in Wrestling

12:26Creative Control and Corporate Interference

15:33The Future of Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes

18:30The Impact of TKO on WrestleMania

21:29The Fallout of WrestleMania 40

24:35The State of WWE and Triple H's Leadership

38:04The Impact of Promos and Creative Decisions

39:10Vince McMahon's Billion-Dollar Legacy

42:35The Future of WWE and Triple H's Role

45:04Wrestling's First Love: A Heartfelt Reflection

50:14The Dilemma of Loyalty in Wrestling

52:22The Celebrity Influence on Wrestling

59:51The Business of Wrestling: A New Era

01:07:12The Future of WWE: Speculations and Concerns

01:07:37Vince's Legacy and Future

01:10:49Rhea Ripley vs. Meachin: A Hidden Gem

01:15:25Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre: Building Tension

01:18:27Danhausen's Comedy Relief in Tag Team Action

01:29:39Reflections on SmackDown's Quality

01:40:35Looking Ahead to Raw and WrestleMania