CENA IS GONE WHAT WILL CHANGE? or NOTHING CHANGES (Wrestling Soup 12.16.25)

Join Anthony and Joe as they dive deep into the latest Monday Night Raw, dissecting the fallout from John Cena’s retirement, Gunther’s controversial win, and the current state of WWE’s creative direction. From hilarious opening banter to sharp critiques of booking decisions, this episode covers it all—plus, thoughts on Logan Paul, Nikki Bella, and the future of wrestling’s biggest stars. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, you’ll find plenty to laugh about and ponder in this unfiltered, passionate review. :gunshot:00:00 – Cold Open & Banter: Reubens, fiber, and afternoon delight01:10 – Anthony and Joe introduce the show02:10 – Raw Recap: “Not trying” and the feeling of a series finale03:00 – Gunther’s Booking: What did he do wrong?05:00 – The Cena Conundrum: Why is everyone mad at Gunther?08:00 – Storyline Analysis: Is WWE leaning on old tropes?10:00 – The Foreign Heel: Are fans booing for the right reasons?12:00 – WWE’s Creative Direction: Locker room reactions and missed opportunities15:00 – Logan Paul in the Main Event: Is WWE out of ideas?18:00 – Nikki Bella, Stephanie, and the Women’s Division21:00 – Booking Blunders: Austin Theory, LA Knight, and crowd reactions25:00 – WWE’s Business Model: International tours, ticket prices, and fan fatigue28:00 – The Future of WWE: Can the product survive on hype alone?31:00 – Side Tangents: Mr. Beast Land, Randy Orton, and Saudi Arabia34:00 – Wrapping Up: Listener voicemails, final thoughts, and what’s nextDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more wrestling reviews and discussions!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

We went live on YouTube immediately following Saturday Night’s Main Event, and let’s be honest—the chat saw exactly what we saw. We watched the "End of an Era," but instead of an emotional goodbye, WWE gave us a retirement party planned by a focus group. It was sterile, it was underwhelming, and it was the definition of corporate.We break down the disconnect: The audience wanted to give Cena his flowers, but the execution was lifeless. We talk about Gunther being the absolute right guy for the job, but being handcuffed by "cheeseball" booking that felt like it was written for a cartoon in 1988, not a retirement in 2025. The H Machine managed to take a historic moment and make it feel like an HR meeting.We also touched on the rest of the card—briefly—because we had to. We look at Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi, Bayley mixing it up with Sol Ruca, and AJ Styles & Dragon Lee in a tag match against... I’ve already forgotten their names, and judging by the crowd reaction, so did everyone else.Come for the rant on the booking, stay for the reality check on Cena’s farewell.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

This episode covers the swirling rumors about the possible reveal of Ricky Starks, and the ever-changing landscape of wrestling stables. The guys debate the merits of Austin Theory, Ricky Starks, and other rising stars, while reflecting on the booking decisions of WWE and the influence of Netflix on the product.You'll also hear their takes on John Cena's retirement match, the future of top talents like Gunther, and the challenges facing both new and veteran wrestlers. Plus, enjoy candid discussions about wrestling's international expansion, the business side of the industry, and plenty of hilarious side tangents about music videos, celebrity appearances, and more.0:00 - WWE Rumors & Ricky Starks Speculation15:00 - Austin Theory, Ethan Page, and the State of WWE Booking30:00 - John Cena's Retirement & Future of the Roster45:00 - International Expansion & Netflix's Role1:00:00 - Wrestling in Pop Culture & Final ThoughtsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

In this episode of Wrestling Soup, Joe and Anthony dive into the latest Monday Night Raw, breaking down the highs, lows, and everything in between. The guys discuss the rushed Maxine Dupree and Natty storyline, critique WWE’s current creative direction, and share their thoughts on the state of the women’s division. They also touch on the War Raiders’ booking, the ongoing saga of the Usos and New Day, and speculate about the future with so many top stars nearing retirement. Tthe hosts debate whether AI is secretly running WWE and what the company needs to do to get back on track.Show opens, Joe and Anthony banter about going live and introduce the show.Discussion about Monday Night Raw, initial reactions, and Anthony’s viewing habits.Raw review: Maxine Dupree and Natty promo, and the rushed storyline.Commentary on the state of WWE creative, including Triple H’s absence and speculation about AI writing the show.War Raiders segment: critique of the state of tag teams.Jay and Jim Uso segment, New Day’s involvement, and the lack of heat for tag titles.Talk about upcoming retirements: AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Sheamus, John Cena, and the future of WWE’s roster.Women’s division focus: Stephanie promo, Nikki Bella’s appearance, Raquel Rodriguez’s involvement.More on the women’s matches: Rox vs. Lyra Valkyria, makeup mishaps.Main event setup: Logan Paul, LA Knight, and the Masked Man angle.Criticism of Logan Paul’s inexperience and the need for better booking/protection of new talent.Final thoughts: lackluster promos, Gunther’s segment, and the overall poor quality of the show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 – Opening banter, ice cream and mall food courts1:45 – Dippin' Dots and ice cream nostalgia3:03 – Bubble tea and unique drinks5:23 – Ben & Jerry’s, ice cream in Chicago8:22 – Movie and pop culture discussion18:56 – WWE, John Cena, and wrestling business talk31:11 – The Rock, Roman Reigns, and wrestling storylines47:23 – WWE business, ESPN, and pay-per-view pricing1:00:00 – Audience, ticket prices, and wrestling economics1:20:00 – Security at wrestling events, Paige story1:34:52 – Closing remarks, shoutouts, and outroBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

In this episode, Anthony and Joe deliver a sharp, humorous, and unfiltered review of WWE’s latest programming, focusing on the fallout from War Games and the current state of Monday Night Raw. They debate the quality of the pay-per-view, critique WWE’s creative direction and booking—especially the use of gimmick matches and the influence of agents and writers—and discuss the ongoing storylines involving Jay Uso, Roman Reigns, and the Bloodline. The hosts also spotlight the women’s division, particularly the evolving dynamic between Maxine Dupree and Natalya, and praise standout performances like Gunther’s match with Solo Sikoa. Throughout, they mix wrestling insight with fan perspective, touch on the live event experience and ticket prices, and offer forward-looking thoughts on WWE’s future, all while keeping the conversation lively and engaging.00:06 – The challenge of grading multi-person matches01:10 – Cage match gimmicks and creative frustrations05:31 – Blame game: creative, agents, and match quality06:10 – Extended intro and transition to Raw review06:10 – Jay Uso’s storyline and emotional promo18:11 – Roman Reigns, Bloodline, and the future of the faction22:55 – Under Armour ad parody and Maxine Dupree’s storyline30:33 – Natty as a mentor and women’s division storytelling36:00 – Maxine Dupree’s character direction and limitations54:00 – WWE’s use of veteran talent01:01:50 – Raw’s “epic” billing and show structure critique01:20:00 – Main event: Women’s tag match and aftermath01:28:36 – Closing thoughts, Gunther praise, and sign-offBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Wrestling Soup: WarGames 2025 - The "Vision" is BlurryJoe Numbas, Anthony, and Jon Draper (@iamjondraper @spitball_media) break down a chaotic night at Petco Park where cages were locked, legends were embarrassed, and masked men ruined the finish. We’re NOT a wrestling show, we’re a show that happens to witness John Cena get hit in the yam bag.Women's WarGames (The "Nostalgia" Pop): AJ Lee proves she can still go (and make people tap), Iyo Sky attempts to murder herself with a trash can dive, and Team Ripley picks up the win over Team "Why is Lash Legend here?".The Retirement Tour Detour: John Cena does the honors for Dominik Mysterio. We discuss the "passing of the torch" (or just passing of the heat) and whether Dom actually needs the Intercontinental Title.Liv Morgan’s "Shocking" Return: The swerve that wasn't really a swerve. Liv returns, teases a face turn, and immediately low-blows Cena. The Judgment Day soap opera continues forever.Stephanie Vaquer vs. Nikki Bella: A match that happened. Vaquer retains the Women's World Title, and we question if the "Bella Army" still has any recruits left in 2025.Men's WarGames (Old Guard vs. The Vision): The "Bloodline & Friends" reunion tour hits a wall. Brock Lesnar collects a massive paycheck to throw a few suplexes, and The Vision (Breakker, Reed, McIntyre, Logan Paul) actually gets the win.The Masked Man Mystery: Who helped Bron Breakker pin CM Punk? Was it Seth? Austin Theory? We fantasy book the worst possible options and complain about interference finishes in a cage match.Final Thoughts: Was this "Cinema" or just a very long episode of Raw with a fence?Listen to the show that HAPPENS to talk about wrestling.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

00:00 - Intro & Wrestling Soup Banter00:35 - John Cena & Becky Lynch Podcast Drama01:19 - Seth Rollins and John Morrison Comparisons02:33 - Becky Lynch’s Industry Revelations09:08 - Polygamy, Relationships, and Seth’s Past11:31 - Will Ospreay, Wrestling Risks & Injuries16:00 - Partying, Addiction, and Life Choices18:51 - Survivor Series Preview29:00 - Petco vs. PetSmart & Cat Food Tangent33:36 - Survivor Series Women’s Match Breakdown46:42 - Men’s War Games Match Analysis51:00 - John Cena vs. Dominic Mysterio53:20 - Fantasy Booking: Lumberjack Strap Match55:30 - Thanksgiving Wrap-Up & Outro56:17 - End of ShowBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

00:36 - Health Update & Sick Kids05:00 - Raw & SmackDown Ratings Discussion07:44 - AI in WWE & Creative Stagnation11:40 - Long Entrances & Filler Segments19:55 - Carmelo Hayes vs. Gunther Discussion21:01 - Gunther’s Character & Booking24:45 - USOs Tag Team Dynamics29:05 - Dominic Mysterio Angle36:00 - Ray Mysterio vs. JD McDonough40:07 - Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Women’s War Games Segment48:58 - Solo Sikoa vs. Penta & Injury54:00 - Logan Paul’s Role & Booking01:06:00 - Main Event Chaos & Show Wrap-upBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

00:00 - Intro & Spanish Commentary Surprises01:21 - Show Overview & First Impressions03:50 - Grande Americano: The Local Hero04:36 - Production Quality & No English Commentary06:10 - Lucha Libre vs. WWE Style07:47 - Recap: Why the Main Event Matters08:40 - Founders of AAA Presentation09:25 - Cruiserweight #1 Contender Match: Axiom vs. Jovan Evans vs. Octagon Jr.14:05 - Match Analysis: High-Flying Action & Selling16:11 - Jovan Evans Wins, Sets Up December 20th16:32 - Tag Team Chaos: Psycho Circus vs. El Hojo’s Team18:46 - No Rules, Wild Spots, and Table Bumps20:06 - Psycho Circus Wins, Aftermath & Wyatt 6 Tease24:01 - Promo: Vikingo & Dragon Lee, Crowd Reactions27:01 - Mixed Tag Team Title Match: Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana vs. Chelsea Green & Ethan Page30:41 - Intergender Action & WWE Influence33:01 - Finish: Kendo Stick, Title Retained, Wagner Run-In36:00 - Main Event: Dragon Lee, Vikingo, Grande Americano, Dominik Mysterio39:18 - Crowd Dynamics: Heels & Faces Reversed41:01 - Grande Americano’s Crowd Work43:00 - Match Finish: Grande Americano & Dominik Win45:00 - Lucha Brothers Challenge for December 20th47:00 - Final Thoughts & Upcoming Matches49:00 - Plugs: YouTube, Patreon, Socials52:00 - Outro & Thank YousBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.