The Road to WrestleMania Heats Up as Sami Zayn Wins the United States Championship

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you had to pick one wrestler on the roster to win a random championship to get on the WrestleMania card, who would it be (0:40)? David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing the announcement that John Cena will host WrestleMania (6:42). Then they discuss the following: Fans paying for a Cody Rhodes bus tour during WrestleMania weekend (10:30) Sami Zayn winning the WWE United States Championship (19:18) Which match they're more invested in: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton or Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk (32:56) Kenny Omega defeating Swerve Strickland to become no. 1 contender for the AEW World Title (41:20) WWE ‘Raw’ at Madison Square Garden preview (54:23) Bad News Brown being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (1:10:59) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide, and Brian H. Waters Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you had to predict a reason for Toni Storm’s extended absence, what would it be (0:40)?David, Kaz, and Brian look at the following feuds developing for WrestleMania: Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker’s injury recovery time (9:31) Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar’s showdown (14:34) Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes (17:19) Roman Reigns and CM Punk (22:29) Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan (33:36) Then they discuss what Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Gunther and a few others could be doing at WrestleMania (36:00)Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X.Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide and  Brian H. WatersProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF  THE WEEK: When you were a kid, who was cooler, Chuck Norris or Dennis Rodman (0:41)? David and Kaz kick off the show discussing the IWC fallout after Ricochet's tweet and apology (13:45). They discuss the following: Who AEW will miss more, Toni Storm or Adam Hangman Page (29:23) Swerve challenges Kenny Omega for his EVP position (55:35) Oba Femi answers Brock Lesnar’s open challenge (1:12:34) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide and  Brian H. Waters Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF  THE WEEK: Five years ago this week was AEW’s exploding barbed wire death match. If WrestleMania had that match, who would you want to see in it (0:30)? David, Kaz, and Brian kick off the show discussing Ricky Sosa’s television debut on TNA wrestling (9:10) They discuss the following: Which wrestling themes they play enough before it hits ‘Spotify Wrapped’ (19:25) ESPN will no longer use letter grades for WWE PLEs (23:00) Brock Lesnar’s potential opponents for WrestleMania (49:25rtt) AEW ‘Revolution’ Preview (56:28) Then Ben Cruz sits down with MJF ahead of his Texas Death match with Adam Hangman Page, where he discusses not only how he is preparing for the match, but also how he is preparing his wife, and his fellow 'Happy Gilmore 2' cast members (1:46:01). Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide,  Brian H. Waters, and Ben Cruz Guest: Maxwell Jacob Friedman Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF  THE WEEK: Who is the Michael B. Jordan of pro wrestling (0:41)? David and Kaz kick off the show discussing the main event of ‘AEW Revolution,’ where MJF retained his title, leaving Adam Page to never challenge for the AEW World Title again (2:32). They discuss the following: Ronda Rousey is “All Elite”  (14:02) Cope and Cage return (21:36) Jon Moxley’s impressive wrestling resume  (26:26) MJF adds the Texas Death Match to his list of great matches (48:36) Randy Orton beats down Cody Rhodes during the ‘WrestleMania’ contract signing (54:19) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide and  Brian H. Waters Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Five years ago this week was AEW’s exploding barbed wire death match. If WrestleMania had that match, who would you want to see in it (0:30)? David and Brian open up the mailbag this week, respond to a few questions from the humanoids, and recap highlights from WWE ‘Raw.’ They discuss the following: Build a wrestler by picking from the legends' in-ring skills, mic skills, physical look, and signature moves (3:00) Brian’s perfect wrestler in MyRISE mode in 'WWE 2K26' (8:40) Is CM Punk working heel right now (20:33)? Whether or not David was one of the masked men on 'Raw' (50:10) Logan Paul’s WrestleMania and whether or not Tom Brady was involved (52:07) Oba Femi’s dominant win over Rusev (56:40) Cody Rhodes regains the Undisputed WWE Championship, and fans are buying bots to dislike the YouTube video (1:31:20) Then Ben speaks with AEW superstar Swerve Strickland, and they discuss the following: The total number of matches Swerve has had in his career (1:38:35) Looking back at his AEW debut four years ago (1:40:39) How he's evolved and become physically bigger since his debut (1:46:23) Reactions to Kaz’s description of his personality (1:49:34) Previewing his match with Brody King at AEW Revolution (1:52:30) His viral entrance with Prince Nana (1:57:24) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Brian H. Waters, and Ben Cruz Guest: Swerve Strickland Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CM Punk Drills a Deep Cut With Roman Reigns OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre: Who is going to win (0:40)? David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing AEW Dynamite, which opened with an incredible match between MJF and Kevin Knight (3:40). Then they recap WWE 'Raw' with the following: Penta defeats Dominik Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship (20:49) CM Punk brings up Roman Reigns’s father in his promo (25:22) Wearing lucha masks is a part of everyday fashion (58:30) Hot take: David says that Demolition was better than Road Warriors (1:00:00) Later, Drew McIntyre speaks with David, Ben, and Brian ahead of his match with Cody Rhodes on SmackDown, a showdown that he is urging Nick Aldis to cancel. He also discusses the following: Thoughts on CM Punk and Roman Reigns's promo battle (1:05:32) Opponent preferences for WrestleMania (1:06:27) Working with Cody Rhodes in 2010 versus 2026 (124) His postretirement diet (1:15:00) Hosts: David Shoemaker, Ben Cruz, and Brian H. Waters Guest: Drew McIntyre Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What reveal from Saturday was more fulfilling, Danhausen coming out of the box or seeing Wheeler Yuta’s shaved head? David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing the reveal that Danhausen was the wrestler in the mysterious crate (2:53). Then they recap WWE Elimination Chamber: Will Finn Balor be OK after his loss to CM Punk (15:54)? Seth Rollins returns to Elimination Chamber as the Masked Man (22:26) Randy Orton wins the men’s Elimination Chamber match with Drew McIntyre’s interference (29:42) Rhea Ripley will challenge Jade Cargill at WrestleMania (46:20) Kiana James and Raquel Rodriguez were impressive in the Elimination Chamber (51:30) WWE 'Raw' preview (1:02:24) Be sure to check out our videos on⁠ BlueSky⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠,⁠ Instagram Threads⁠, and⁠ X⁠. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide, and Brian H. Waters Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who do you think is the lone person with a 97 overall rating in 'WWE 2K26'? The show starts off with Kaz taking a victory lap after AJ Styles confirmed that he is retired from the ring (10:27). Then he and David discuss the MVPs of ESPN’s coverage leading into the Elimination Chamber (17:56). They also discuss: Who is the best booker in wrestling today? (33:42) How they would push the young talent in WWE (49:09) Predictions for the men’s Elimination Chamber (54:35) Predictions for the women’s Elimination Chamber (1:11:48) The show ends with Finn Bálor joining before he faces off with CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship this Saturday. They discuss the subtle changes to his character recently (1:39:01), his relationship with cannabis (1:49:03), and what AJ Styles has meant to him throughout his career (1:52:46). Be sure to check out our videos on the Ringer Wrestling TikTok account @RingerWrestling, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide Guest: Finn Bálor Producer: Bruce Baldwin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If professional wrestling were an Olympic sport, who would represent the United States? David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing WWE superstars who are appearing on ESPN shows (10:01), before David doubles down on his Seth Rollins injury take (19:57). They also discuss: Kaz’s insights into how the WWE creative team pivots when wrestlers get injured (28:10) Whether recent injuries have thrown the WrestleMania plans out the window (36:20) Who the most surprising winner of the Men’s Elimination Chamber would be (47:50) Who they think the masked man is on 'Raw' (1:01:48) AJ Styles's retirement celebration on 'Raw' last night (1:10:12) Be sure to check out our videos on the Ringer Wrestling TikTok account @RingerWrestling, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide Producer: Bruce Baldwin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices