Kayfabe Critics: WWE SummerSlam 2023

Michael Marcangelo: 0:05

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, you are about to listen to the most entertaining and informative wrestling podcast out there. That is not a prediction, it is a spoiler, and this is K-Fabe Critics. Welcome in to K-Fabe Critics. I am your host, mark Angelo joined alongside my guy, hollywood Ray Sean Buchanan, who will be on site at Ford Field this Saturday for SummerSlam. Before we get into everything, ray, it's one of the big four. How are you feeling about this card?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 0:47

I'm excited for me. I'll speak to you on me personally. This is my first time being I'm going to put me over in the first minute of the show. Yeah, you and I had to go see Super Fiber Series together last year, so that was special. But listen, I'm trying to come with me to West Virginia 40, but we still have time, so help me out to get him coming with me to the lake up in Philadelphia. But yeah, only big four to have it been to and I get to conquer that streak and that streak on Saturday. So I'm excited. But no, it's in the card. I think there's some matches that are missing. We may get this one, we may not, but for those that won't be participating in it, I'm excited to see how it unfolds and, as always, I'm hoping for a big return or big returns.

Michael Marcangelo: 1:43

So I guess, before we get into the card, that's actually taking place. We do record this show on Tuesday, august 1. So you're all made aware on before raw on Monday that Becky Lynch versus Trish Trattis will not be happening at Summer State. What's your level of disappointment in that, and do you think that, I guess? How do you think that they've handled the entire build of this, of their future? It feels like they dropped the ball on the big matches.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 2:12

Yeah, I mean you sent it there, but they definitely have dropped the ball. I think this would have been a great end to Rollies, another chapter in there in the new Founder Ruggery. It was built up perfectly, I feel like at the beginning and, like you said, they had some moments where it became a bit a little bit shaky there. But yeah, they missed that uncertainty. So whether they could open the show, whether it could have been the second match in that, whatever, you know, you don't put this on a pre-show. You don't disrespect them like that, right, I think this is a match that would have delivered had they put on the card. Who knows, maybe they surprised us, but once again, I doubt that. But once again, if you're just close to the event, there's no way that you change the billing or what you've already been advertising thus far. I have never seen Trish in person, so I know you're looking forward to it. So, yeah, so that was that personoid. But at the same time, you know, I said did this system of the great thing that would be happening that evening? But yeah, they tripled and whoever else was running creative for this, they missed an opportunity there to have a show and find a match. As someone's learned, yeah, it's been.

Michael Marcangelo: 3:36

The most interesting part about this to me is that you really don't know how many more big four events Trish has, right, I mean, and I don't think you know, I'm not sick talking about her like she's, like she can't do anymore. But this feud, it started at WrestleMania. They played to the seeds right there, and now we're hearing that they're going to try it and have this match maybe as blow off in. Is it Winnipeg, manitoba? Is that what they're doing on Raw on August 14th? It's so. Either I'm missing the boat here and and it's at them for not giving us this match at Summer Slam, or they think that there's more money to be made out of this feud and they're going to prolong. So if that is the case, I'm okay with it, but I don't want this to be over on a Raw. Is that fair?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 4:31

to say no facts. I mean that match happens on August 14th. That's my birthday. That would be a great present for me, so watch. That's the case on Raw. But to me you just like how they deal with Cody and Brock and we'll get into that later on but it's like you could have had just been the first match and then you know you have a second match at either Fastlane or like or survival series, and then the fillers. You could have been at WrestleMania 40 or you know something next year you could have had that year.

Michael Marcangelo: 5:04

They had their first match in Saudi, right? Yeah, oh, so it should be two.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 5:09

So yeah, so this could have been, you know, trish Becky two, and then you could have ended it at S of Bible series. Right, we'll have like team, you know, team Becky, we're seeing Trish site. Then you could have something like that where they're putting over you know your talent, and then have like some type of face off during the Rumble in January. But yeah, you know, I don't know, they've built some other things. So well, I just, I just don't know why this, why he chose to pivot here with this, with this program. So some, some needs to give. But you know, once again, you know I'll trust Tribulation and Nick Taun and, you know, the rest of the crew to figure figure this out eventually. But they need to figure it out fast All right.

Michael Marcangelo: 5:51

So then we don't know the order of the event yet, so I'm just going to go the order in which I think the matches are going to be. Yeah, so we're going to start with the first one, which is the SummerSlam Battle Royal. We know that a couple of the competitors are going to be Sheamus, Champa, Shinsuke. Obviously, we're going to have the Alpha Academy with Chad Gable and Otis who Otis, by the way, just a small aside he continues to get over. No matter what they do, he gets over. So I'm not sure he would. I don't know that he is a world champ type, but I do know that we've seen people like Damian Sandow get the briefcase, lose it and never be able to recover, and Otis is still always entertained. The final person who I think we both want to win this is LA Knight.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 6:43

Yeah, all right.

Michael Marcangelo: 6:46

So I give you your prediction for BattleRose. I always want to talk about it because we don't know everyone that's going to be in it, but I'll just let's frame it this way what can this match end with LA Knight not winning?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 7:00

No, I would jump off of where I'm sitting and find whoever is responsible. But we disagree. I don't know if they open with this I think Logan, paul and Ricochet open, but we're going to that match certainly. And they do open with this. Excuse me, yeah, listen, la Knight has to win. Once again. We tripled it with Super Cryptic at the end of Money in the Bank. Oh, you know good days. Tell me those who wait, I'm going to look, man, that's in 1996. If you're so mad about them putting Austin over you because you chose to give Sean and Razor and you know, and Diesel a hug, let it go, bro. Let it go, it's okay. This man is white, hot right now. Like, and it was organic, what's up in there they pushed on us Like, literally. He came in as a heel, you know, from like November to like March and then all of a sudden you're going with the catchphrases. They're saying, yeah, once again I was at another promotion or whatever. It's not like we don't work with WWE. I was at an AEW show. I was like what am I?

Michael Marcangelo: 8:12

I'm not like I'm not on and on with Harry or Hwani.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 8:15

Or you know, or you know.

Michael Marcangelo: 8:16

Chris.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 8:18

Chris Van Vleeg. Whatever, we're good Love to have you on the show, don't go. You know, come on. But yeah, I'm at AEW. You know Blood and Guts, which was a great show. They're yelling L night, yeah, and in the balcony and I'm like this man is over. No, no, you're at another show. You're watching guys and so off page, and you know there was a great match with Brett Baker. You see the MJF and Adam Cole, baby, you know, doing a little dance, Like it was great. And next to him I was like you're streaming L a night, yeah, like on unreal to me I was, and I think I fixed you. I was like yo, la night is so over. So over.

Michael Marcangelo: 9:02

It's ridiculous.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 9:05

So if they could be an other wasn't yet not even involved in this promotion, and they're saying his name was again, I thought it was a new Japan and we saying it and it that one way he was already being like pack, like it's like come, come on. So I don't know, I just to me there's no other was, though, once again, I wouldn't. Would I be mad if Otis or Gabriel won? No, because, like you said, alfred Academy is over, it's super over as well. They done with matching your previous band, awesome. So you know, thank you, you know I get it, um, but yeah, la night is the clear cut from here, so, which means you're not going to win.

Michael Marcangelo: 9:48

Right, exactly, it's going to be so. One of the one of the names is not listed in our rundown Again, so we're going through what I guess the best way I should phrase this is the order of importance on the card, because we don't we do not know the order. So, that being said, I would say that the next night, which you talked about, should be Ronda Rousey versus Shayna Baszler in an MMA rules match. We think that this is going to be a Rhonda's last match. Uh, it sounds like she. She gave them an end date, so they kind of up the the timetable as to when this match was going to happen. I will say that, despite that and how rushed it feels, shayna Baza looks really good in this field. I mean, it looks really good. So I mean I expect Shayna to win. I just hate the MMA rules match because, okay, I understand that there are people out there and you do too right Like that love MMA and love WWE and professional wrestling. The problem is is you can't do a worked shoot, fight. It doesn't work, but so I know why they're trying to do this. But give me your take on what you're expecting from this match and who you think is gonna walk out victorious. I hope Shayna beats her ass.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 11:09

Like you know, bring back the cleanest babes. You know the NAC vibes. I'm here for it. Once again. Her character on me and roster is kind of slail. You know she's had. You know that Rubin Nye Jackson, you know. But they've made her beat, meaning Shayna Baszler like yo. It's hot. So yeah, I hope she beats Rhonda's ass Saturday night and I'm more for it. I'll be trolling whoever's roaring for Rhonda in that section.

Michael Marcangelo: 11:34

Do you think anyone?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 11:35

will be rooting for Rhonda. I'm trying to think, oh no, we haven't seen it in a while, but I remember it was last time I seen her, right we started Survivor Series. Oh yeah, yeah, they wasn't happy, so that's true, but there's always a few. There's always a few suckers in the crowd. I'm sure there might be some with the you know the Roddy Rod there, you know Roddy Shirt, or whatever. But yeah, yeah, but, shayna, this probably will be the second match, or, fortunately, this will be the match that's going to be the third Don't step back tomorrow, which is unfortunate, but you know, I think it's going to be a good match and I think that you know, shayna Baszler. You know mainly because she's saying she should be the one who's going to be the first.

Michael Marcangelo: 12:22

Yeah, so I 100% agree. I also think that the I think the intention of this on Rhonda's part was to make sure that she left and she got her friend over, or she did the best that she did in favor. And I will say the promos, the vignettes, everything, shayna, this is the best that she's been on the main roster.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 12:41

Oh, for sure.

Michael Marcangelo: 12:42

She was great in NXT, but she wasn't known for her character work or her mic skills. Yeah, I think the vignettes about how Rhonda jumped her in order and how Shayna's been working her ass off and she introduced Rhonda to wrestling and she was still passed over Like that's a real story, you know.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 13:02

What so? Which is why I think it makes it so. I think anytime something is personal, like, once again, when you get, not when you believe something you know I saw just like, well, then, hold on, as we did recently. Like you have to believe what you're saying. If you don't believe what you're saying, you know the fans are going to get it, they're going to know. So, yeah, there's nothing. They didn't have to work for this. This, this, everything that's talking about happening in real life and it's there, is documented, is there? So they're just like all right, let's just talk about it. You know you screwed me and so, okay, now it's time to get my payback Period.

Michael Marcangelo: 13:39

Right. So if this is Rhonda's final match, real quick. How would? What would you, what do you make of her run, you know, from 2018 through now, is would you qualify or classify it as a success or have the last, as the last year and a half kind of tainted that for?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 14:00

you. So last year and a half underwhelming the first two years over 2018, it's a, you know, through wrist money at 35 phenomenal, like it was her match and money to bank with a Nia Jackson, alexa, alexa, bless. Come to the cash in on the way down. See what I did there. Yeah, oh, I thought that was awesome. I thought that she really connected with the crowd as best she could, surprisingly, was really good as a face. I think that, you know, I think people thought in that automatically she would come in as a heal and be that out that she really could take, being bored, honestly. And I think that's where I think some things really there resonate with her. Well, because she was like yo, like I am a father, y'all went crazy over and now you know I'm supposed I'm, I'm, I'm just supposed to heal and y'all can't stand me, but like I'm the baddest woman on the planet, like what was? What's wrong with y'all type thing. So, yeah, that first year and a half to, I thought that she delivered in every in every way. But, yeah, the last year or so maybe, I don't know whether I was able to. I lack interest. I don't know if it was something where you know she was a fill in it or maybe all creative, just didn't know what, what direction to really go. What's her? I did enjoy her match with Liv Morgan. I thought that was a good program that they had. You know shortly, you know she put. But I will say she did kind of become like the female rock that when she wanted to work and wanted to, you know, put you over, so to speak. She would make you look really good in the ring and like to live work as a product of that. I would have liked to see her have matches where we're going over, we get one on one. I mean we'll we'll speak about her shortly as well. Definitely that would have been a hell of a mashup in the future, for the window is maybe she gets a renewed sense for the business. That comes back at some point. But like I said right right now it's in the last year. Some change to me outside of the Liv Morgan program was underwhelming, but you know I would say. But overall it was decent.

Michael Marcangelo: 16:01

Yeah, I think that 2018 to 2019 run was maybe unfair to her. It would be hard to top because she was so good in that tag match with Kirk against against Shriplacian Stephanie, I mean yeah, and she surprised everybody and then that entire run. I would say that she lived up to it. I thought I thought that her coming back at the rumble was. I thought it was really cool and I had. This is why I don't think that I'm not going to knock her on the fact of her not being like interested because she did come back. What was it? Four months, five months after, after giving birth. So you don't do that for something that you don't care about. You know right, I just think she would. The fact that her last survivor series match was against Shotzi this is not. I'm not taking you know I'm not taking any digs at Shotzi. No, that was it. That was a bad match and you should not use Rhonda in that way. I should like. In my opinion, that's like Brock versus Dean Ambrose and maybe Like it was it was a thorough it was a thorough it.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 17:05

Yeah.

Michael Marcangelo: 17:06

It's, it's, it's really Ripley versus Raquel Rodriguez, right, yep, yep, are we sure that that's happening?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 17:15

I also. I love that. I first saw her, carl Rodriguez and on a dusty road, classic late to the tag team thing. I was like whoa. She popped up from the street from me and I was like that's a true several champion. I thought in my mind now she's not going over Sad and, I guess, real, let's be honest, but her time will come. I think she should witness one of the women's wear rumble. I think she's ready, in my opinion. So, yeah, I think that's going to be a good match, real, what she wants to can go with anybody and have a match of the year.

Michael Marcangelo: 17:50

So that you know that that that it's not on the card.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 17:58

I thought it on, maybe not, maybe it's not, but I thought it was. I just I don't, I don't. Oh, actually, you know what it's not actually no, it was supposed to be. Well, either way, it don't take away from what I said like you deserve that moment. So maybe they do it for you at Fastland, or they do it for you and the Super Showdown, and oh, that's not the name of it, but that's essentially what it is in India in September.

Michael Marcangelo: 18:24

Brian.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 18:25

Jule, you know it's not even called Cromwell, jule, the name's something different from Fastland I saw. I just I just know it's in India. So it should be that they always change the name of the show. I might just call it, which you would call it, unless I guess maybe you know, legally they can't call it something. But either way, and they don't take away us at Raquel Rodriguez as a future world champion To me, I'm like to title defend it a bit more. You know, coming from Rhea, but once again I'm not in creative and I'm not the one who makes the booking. So it is what it is.

Michael Marcangelo: 18:58

I just love Rhea Ripley. Yeah she's great. I think more Rhea is always better, but I'm down for her to have a Roman Reigns-esque title reign because she's so good. I mean she's so good.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 19:14

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean I've been listening to her. She is the leader of the Judgment Day. Like for those that say anything different, like you don't know what she's talking about, but yeah, she's gotten them over Jam, dare, siga, handily. And you know what China did for HBK and Hunter. She'd throw it for Dahl. And once again, dom is not going to lose what is potential. So before people you know get their pains in a bunch and say, oh, he's no, I'm just saying hey, what we saw China do early on, I see she added to that group and really made you know they're not DS without her. So they can say what they want to do. Judgment Day is not what it is without Rhea and once again, dom is not what he's becoming as a heel without you know, rhea's help. So she's really on in a major way and I love it. Once again, I want to see that match happen as some points. I'm hoping that they do that for her.

Michael Marcangelo: 20:17

All right, so there's six matches left to go through. And here's the thing I think every single one of these matches could be a match to the night candidate. Yep, so now we're just I'm just going to leave the title matches, you know, towards the end, so we'll go in. You know, in particular, order ricochet versus Logan Paul. I thought, you know, I think that this match is going to be, you know, a spot fest for just some degree. But that promo that Logan did on raw that's money. Yeah, that is money. And he should only ever be a fucking heel and WWE because he's so damn good. He points out the fact that the ring announcer is ricochet's fiancee and that says don't take a personal. And your, when your girl says my name, I mean that's just fucking perfect. Yeah, that's right. That's right. So Logan's going to win, right.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 21:13

He, I mean he should, he should, like. We're just, we know what ricochet can do, we know it's funny. Ironically, one of my favorite mashups of ricochet was when he'd be some over Joe for the US title and like battleground, like three or four years ago. I thought that was a hell of a match. I thought that he should have ascended a little bit more at that. At that moment it didn't work out that way. Obviously, you know the pandemic and I was like that went on. But yeah, like ricochet is a beast. But, needless to say, if you're, if you're trying to build a new star in Logan Paul, you have to put, have put, you have to put them over. And this match and was again, they throw them, they throw them in with some, with some, with some real talent Was again. You know he has the match of Roman Reigns and held his own. You know, we know, we know, we obviously know he wasn't going to win that match against Roman. But the fact that he held his own while he buckled his knee at that moment, like that, that was really that was a telltale sign that yeah, he's. He may not be the right now, but he's sure going to be someone that's up next. So, yeah, I'm trying to see what he does. I think that we're going to see some moves that we haven't seen from either side, but yeah, like Logan Paul, she's definitely going to go over in this, in this, in this bout.

Michael Marcangelo: 22:27

So 100%, 100% agree. Next is Cody Brock three. So I just want to say I don't know if you've caught it yet, but the making of the American Nightmare Documentary on Peacock about Cody.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 22:46

Yeah, I know it's already out. I need to watch it though.

Michael Marcangelo: 22:48

You're going to watch it because there's just something about Cody Rhodes that makes you rude for him.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 22:56

And what's interesting to me about that? In all times, that's right, but what's?

Michael Marcangelo: 23:00

interesting to me about him is that he was certainly getting glued in a promotion that he fucking started and because they didn't appreciate him. Now I think that you know we always talk about how the fan base of the WWE, the WWE Universe, they're fickle and they feel like they're. They're have someone shoved down their throat. They're going to boo him. Cody Rhodes has been shoved down our throat for a year and a half and everyone's still watching. That's because he's that good, and credit to Brock for losing to Cody clean. So in this, in this feud so this is the third one what do you think happens in CenterSlam?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 23:39

Cody Woods, I mean Brock Brock, I mean I'm been in the NBA, he didn't need to be here either.

Michael Marcangelo: 23:51

I just, I just agree with that, by the way.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 23:56

Yeah, I didn't think he was very white. That's not me. I feel like Bray Bray, he fought the next year. I feel like that should have been someone. Give it to that guy. He was saying, like give it to a guy that was he could have been built a new face of fear Like that. That's how I would have viewed it, in my opinion, but most of the that's almost it's only a 70 years old as well. But no, I think I think Cody goes over and then they move on to another, to another program. This is a feud. I didn't know I needed, I was, I was pissed when this happened. I was, I was, I was glad that you're part of the fitness and story crew. Like if I could have had it on my shirt and it would like Cody is the fitness and story. Like I would have had that on Front shirt, front shirt, back shirt, whatever I and I still want that. I still want that to happen. I would love for him to win back to back wearable. Like I would book it that way. I don't care. Like whoever's bad say, matt, I would book him to win that and go on to win at Everett Semin and they share in Philadelphia. But yeah, this has been great and I love what I saw on on what do you call it? On Monday night. It's funny On Raw, right On Monday on Raw, and it's funny because the fact that my, because my mom is a, say, Martino Dusty Rose, Rick Flair, that's my mom's. So I know that this is something because, like man, that Cody Rose is something. And once again, my, my, my dad this is not my mom's ever to watch us and buy food. She was like, yeah, like you know, just you know, I can't. She's like she can't believe that Brown wasn't still a restaurant. So I was just like, yeah, like you know, he's been out there and she, you know, she got me sick, so she was a three-word rumble when he won Autumn years ago. So she's like, wow, so that that's how you know how over-coded he is. Like, if my mom is fantastic, she was a fan of his author, you know that he's over for real. So yeah, but that leaves alone Cody, just don't all right on on on on Saturday night, but I must say I won't be surprised to Brockwood, but I think Cody, cody gets the one there.

Michael Marcangelo: 26:03

I mean, there is something old school about Cody. I don't know. I truly don't know what it is. I don't know if it's if it's the respect that he earned from all of us for for fighting with that, with that torn pack. So that was. That was gruesome, and I think he built up a lot of equity with with fans of the WWE. But to your point, I was a part of the, you know, of the finished story gimmick. I loved it. But why not, sean, when there were a rumble in 95 and lost the main event and then won the world rumble again the next year and won it? But the story did it? This isn't a new thing from WWE, right? So I think if the the lazy take is to say, well, they screwed this up, I don't know if they did, yet I don't think that they have but to unfortunate, and this is unfortunate.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 26:53

No one remembers. Well, we remember, because that was our childhood. He got to be the easiest person of all time. We remember that you know, the boy had a dream that some true like that was forever be etched in our minds. I don't know if this era doesn't have that. Maybe the day of the bride went in for somebody already. You know the miracle came like maybe, you know, maybe yet you know, obviously Eddie Guerrero had no way out and no four like maybe those moments, but they don't. This era doesn't have that moment. So I think it resonated at 39, it was again. I was going crazy. I was like I want you, I want you to kick the other way, we get to cross the other way. I was like what? I didn't roll the kick style, I was just like, no like, and it had to happen now. So I was furious but yeah, but no like. I said, you definitely have that old school vibe. I just think it's because of who that is and I think that I think for a long time he was kind of shy away, he was kind of get away from that. You know that vibe, but I think that he's embraced. You know being Dusty Sun and being someone that you know has a little bit of old school flavor to him and working in his favor, so I think he's off. So I didn't love Stardust. I didn't love Stardust.

Michael Marcangelo: 28:13

I didn't love yeah, he didn't either. I loved Dash and Cody Rhodes. I loved Dash and Cody Rhodes, but I would just say but I think now he's okay with being mentioned with Dusty Rhodes, but he doesn't need to rely on it like he would have if he had been, if he had come out as Cody Rhodes and been doing this like the American Nightmare before. I love his gimmick, but I love Brock. Brock gets a lot of shit for his part-time schedule, but aside from the Dean Ambrose match at Mania, can you tell me in this run, since he came back in 2012, what's one match that has not lived up to it?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 28:56

Well, I mean objectively, like I was pissed that Steve was for Austin match. I was pissed, but I get it. It made sense at that time. He just beat the taker, I get it, but no he delivers well, maybe Mania 34, maybe I was there wasn't it kind of piping the noise or not? The bulls were heavy that night. Fans were pissed that people thought they were mad about that match. They did not want that to be. It's tight. So I don't care what they said on TV, I'll tell you I was in the building, I was at the Superdome and Superdome was super loud. So remember how cool it was. Superdome, not Superdome, he did. That crowd was living and that's when the Beast Bowl era started to come back a little bit. They were pissed. So maybe that match it sucked to him and Drew weren't in front of a crowd. I thought that would have been and I feel like they should have went back to that. I feel like I feel like Drew, drew, kari Jull in the pandemic. I mean I know he ended up getting another run as champion, but I'm like that we should have got that energy that he had in Manning Mayfield that night. I thought that was just incredible. But no, yeah, the last. Even from his reference 20, 20, whatever to now like, yeah, brock Span, he has given me back to the business in multiple ways. So maybe, see your point, maybe that's why they ended up having him go over on Saturday. But, yeah, he has delivered from the time he came back from, you know, see his 2012,. Like, yeah, I can't think of too many matches where he was underwhelming, so maybe two or three, but other than that he's been everything he was, you know, supposed to be.

Michael Marcangelo: 30:44

Yeah, I scrap wrestling at 30, 36, right? Is that what it was in the PC? It doesn't count.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 30:54

Doesn't count because that was terrible, but I think people were there, but it was some good matches that night, but for him it was not there because he needs the crowd.

Michael Marcangelo: 31:07

But for some guy that he doesn't play the crowd. But the crowd loves seeing Brock Lesnar. It feels more important when he's in the ring and there are people around the ring, all right. Next match triple threat Asuka versus Charlotte Flair versus the EST of WWE, bianca Belair. The WWE Championship. This again this, just like the other couple of matches that we just talked about, this could steal the show.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 31:36

All right, so I'm going to break it on now. I'll put it on record right now. This will be a match of the night, sure, I mean once again. But I will say this before we go further and I don't know if it's, I don't know who was it all on? Who to blame when we're not to blame? I don't know how they've made us to look like the third wheel here, but it's wild to me. Asuka was a monster in NXT. She was a monster in her first year being up, other than me, roster and obviously Charlotte. You know, be sure that everybody in 34, you got to do it her better than what it is, and I get it. It's the language barrier. She's now started to do a little bit of English. She had to Jerry miss for a while. I don't know. I just think I don't know how to get back to what she was and that NXT run with the Empress of Tomorrow, stuff. I don't know, maybe she needs her foil and more to come back, but I doubt that. But that's it. Them two put on some great matches and they're on that time. But yeah, needless to say, I think, just the match of the night. I'm ready for the Bianca Hilltarn, I'm ready. I think the chance they've been, they've been hissing at it and kind of seeing kind of gaze where people are feeling like get it. She sells merch and she got the hair swinging and a lot of little girls love her. But I think the time I think that the character as much as I love her has got a little bit of a sale of how it would happen with Bailey and I held her what they would do her justice right now.

Michael Marcangelo: 33:04

Yeah, by the way, it doesn't have to be a real heel turn. Becky Lynch turned heel in 2018. She's not Becky Lynch, sure, but she turned heel the idol of her was, yes, not Becky, but Charlotte's still in the match, so it was an idol. I'm not advocating for Charlotte win, because I've seen enough of those. However, if Charlotte does win and Bianca shakes her hand after and then beats the shit out of her with her ponytail, that is it. That's all you need to do, and then she can just start talking about how she's the baddest. The ST is in there. You can do whatever you want, but you don't need to. She doesn't need to be a chicken shit heel. She can be a badass heel, and if she is that, for two months people are going to cheer for her again Because she has everything.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 33:54

Yeah, yeah, I mean that's true. I mean you put it that way. Yeah, I'm here, I'm here for it, but it's just like you know. Either way, I'm good for you, that wouldn't happen. I'm good with your scenario. I'm good with the full on heel turn. You know, putting her together with the street poppers there, probably last week. Yeah, I'd be here for that, but again, she'd have to be a badass for that.

Michael Marcangelo: 34:20

She can't be a chicken shit heel, because those three gentlemen are badasses and they put themselves that way.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 34:27

But she's, you know, she's put together. So I think that would be that Now she's put together. So that would be, that would be dope, that would be dope. I agree, yeah, yeah, so please, please, triple H, please, please push the idea, please make it happen by survival series, please.

Michael Marcangelo: 34:50

I'm more comfortable with it, knowing that Triple H is a creative, because I don't think he'll screw her up Right. So I think we're in a much, much better spot. The World Heavyweight Championship match will be between Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. This is a callback to the inaugural Universal Championship, and which Finn was what? 24 hours before he, before he was injured, I think surprisingly because of how outlandish Seth Rollins has been recently, but I do love him still. They've done a good job making this match feel important and personal. But before you talk, about that it is. Who do you have? Who do you have winning the Triple Dirt match? Because I do have Charlotte Flair. I got Bianca winning it. Ok, all right, so World Heavyweight title. But you said this is personal. Elaborate on that.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 35:47

So yeah, of course, personal life for him to get you get injured in the match and once again, you know subbing is a number of completion. It's been a 70 years long journey to get back to this moment. So he's got through a demon phase. I'm back to regular phase. He joined him. Was it back to the bowling club? Came back now joined a judgment day. You know, seth Rollins skyrocketed from there. What he was already? He already had a rocket attached to his back.

Michael Marcangelo: 36:11

But after that, you know, Seth Rollins didn't win the Universal title. The next night it was Kevin Owens.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 36:17

Right, exactly what Correct, correct, but that's one of the best matches I've seen. On Roger that got off. That was. That was great. Oh, you know, some tribulations were also just like. Hey, you know, and everybody in there for including me, well, here, we go, seth's gonna win it and boom, dr Frederick Reed, that was great. But no, we have Seth's you know distance to that field with Triple H. After that he has a winning of the IC title. After that, like, he becomes a Grand Slam champion, like. So, so many things that come the Universal champion again a couple of times over. So a lot of things have happened for Seth since that moment in 2016. He's essentially been the face of the company outside of Roman. You know for that for that time. So, yeah, I think that's been. People saw fit as someone who could be a guy that could be one of the faces. He would have been the face we live in, a face of the other company. So so I think in Towsley's father he's been a really, really screwed. So, yeah, and story wise, he has to win. Like, there's no scenario that makes sense for Seth to win, unless you're looking for Damian Priest. They cash it off and and they cause, you know, a reference adjustment day. So, on the software, but to me you have Finn. When he comes out, money night wrong and issue the challenge, you know wins. When Priest comes in from behind, here's some with the this, with the briefcase, hit them with the software have been one, two, three and your new World Heavyweight Champion. You know, they gave me a priest. I think that would be. That would be go.

Michael Marcangelo: 37:59

And that happens. So I'm with you here. I think, I do think Seth Rollins is going to win this match and I think Damian is going to cash it on him at Somerslake and that and that's going to drive the riff between the judge's judgment day. Yeah, it'll be a slow build, yep. So we know, yeah, and I'm OK with that. I'm listening, yeah.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 38:20

I mean, we kind of already seen it, because it's already already happened a little bit at M Money in the Bank. So they did they tease it. I think kind of see what the reaction would be. I mean, once again, I'm listen, we'll be in the trick. I don't expect the trick to react the same way that they did in London. I think that failed. Still be there, so be a pop. Oh yeah, I'm not for it, but as it should be. But yeah, I think Black City has story wise, regardless of where they go with their life in the needs to win Saturday he also needs to play a story, so to speak. But you know, I could totally see them going around of you thought, you thought that you had me, yeah, that you had me and I got you one more time. So you know the, you know, you know, and he goes back to the replay of region three, bill redesign, everybody. You know the visionary strikes again. You know there's a text again.

Michael Marcangelo: 39:16

There's a. I mean it would be hard for this match not to be great, Because they're just so good both of them. They're just so damn good, Yep.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 39:27

Yeah, I mean what I. So I understand there's a ton of match, but I know that we go, so we don't know the order. I just always think his specialist steps starts a pay-per-view, I think they all right, oh yeah. It's sorry, sorry, pl inside premium, whatever, sorry, my bad, he, he, just he, just he knows, he knows he's still the show when he opens and was I've been there for some of them Remember he did it back to back versus manias. You know we did it 34 when he went. I see title. You know, and that fatal four way, you know he beats Brock at 35, you know for the universe. So I just say he, I don't know, he's just, he's just that guy when he opens the show, closes it like I mean he delivers it any spot, but I just think to really get the crowd going, and you know, yeah, I just think when he opens the show he's, he's as good as anybody off many era. So in my opinion, Nope, hardly agree.

Michael Marcangelo: 40:26

All right, so we have Drew McIntyre challenging good for the WWE intercontinental championship. I'm, I'm all aboard the Guthatrain. He is so Fucking good. Yeah, he's believable. I mean, if they do it right, that they could print money with him. But I also loved, I also loved Drew McIntyre. Yeah, I think got their needs to win this match and I'm picking him to win it. But I'm sad about it because I never like better than you can't screw.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 41:01

Yeah, I mean listen, I mean we saw what they did at WrestleMania. I could cut it. Honestly I would have been okay then made sure, with that again, it was part two, was famous and had it to. You know, remember, same as this story, I think I guess that's always had him. That is, he has a one, as I see how, apparently. So I thought down to bear a great part, you, that had been awesome, since they had that in Detroit. But yeah, drew drill I wasn't, I didn't love drew it this way 35. I thought that I hated that machine me Roman. I thought that was terrible, matt. But by the time I said he did, we did wrong was 20. I was like, oh, okay, you like this is, this is what the chosen one was supposed to be all along, and he finally got it at that. But yeah, listen, guthas gonna win. Why? Because they've already put when they start putting up that day, she's gonna do a Roman rain. He's gonna surpass coffee time. Man, he's gonna get that record. And so, beyond and and and it grew on me got it, love it at first. Your intercontinental champion, I love it. So I wanted to see that still happen. So put down the load, forget about what he's great wrestler, but forget just for the entrance alone. We're lower kinds of dozen weekly basis. Like I can't wait to get that on. Take, I got two phones. I'm gonna be sure one of them, one of them's gonna be right there, like and I'll be saying it with them, like the man or your god it's who, like I, cannot wait to see that in the person. So yeah, listen, love drew what you said, let me drew me. That you know, and it was on Anderson. It's not shit night brother. Yeah, so it just. But just, let uh, you know, let let like got to get this good, to get this this, when then, you know, keep pushing the gravy train because he's a visa problem.

Michael Marcangelo: 43:05

Before we get to the main event, I just have a question no, where's? Where's? Austin theory?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 43:14

Maybe he's on the way to be a fire like the prototype was. Oh, I know these the US title. I know he's a new champion. It's been, it's been a super, super, super, super, super super. I know what we won.

Michael Marcangelo: 43:28

It started off. Great though it started off, it did, it did.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 43:31

It did great. Grace of wallers. Every thing people think us, if there is. I Love grace of waller. I think he's a dick, but I love him. I think he's great. I think he's great, for I think they could put this out on him. It may have make it, make that a few and go and go from there. I think I think that would be phenomenal. But I think that the reaming out that John Cena did in Boston, you know, a few months back, right before rest of mania, when he was like you don't believe your promo is, you don't believe this. You'll believe that that was a ton of lashing and public. But I'm pretty sure John said what Triple H thinks with the Khan may think with, you know, whoever else is running creative backgifting, especially whoever's was back there like I'm pretty sure they all feel the same way. Once again, he has a talent, you know, because he grew on me too, because I was like, uh, I'm kind of shaky but I probably found that the Bob and there's only all carrying like that was a heck of a match for the US title. Um, we'll last him. And lastly, boston one and Boston one, nuts and Boston. Yeah, exactly my crazy. So I just I don't. I don't know how he recaptures that, but maybe take the title off him. I don't know. They have to rebrand him a certain way. He's not a natural heel, he's just not. He's not, he is, he is baby face, like grunt's bracelet. Waller makes you believe that that's how he is all the time like. He just like, yeah, yeah, I was the grace of water effect, like the all sees room, like you, and you believe that he's a dick 24 second Austin, austin, there was trying to be something that he's not. So just turn him face. You know he's acting to be, oh, through Cena, to get that very hard and very hard to come to me and say, you know, I just put my mess in your face like that's not, you're not gonna be that guy and it's very hard. You know he can't even be what they claim. This right now. I love that again. So I love the claim after they're awesome, um, you know, but I just I don't, I don't, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know what they do with him, but some something's gotta give.

Michael Marcangelo: 45:28

He needs to come out during summer slamming kind of promo on on the fans and blame them for not having a match.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 45:35

Yeah, that'd be great. Do that, do it, that's great, I mean. And then maybe, who knows, turn it towards how else have someone returned to come back and do it?

Michael Marcangelo: 45:42

Yeah, that'd be great, that'd be great, you know, maybe, maybe that's what they do, who knows, it's made of that time and if you, if you've been listening to us I've been watching every day for the last three years you know the main event. There's only one man that isn't the main event and it is the head of the table, the tribal chief, roman Reigns, taking on made event J who so for the undisputed WWE universal championship in a tribal combat match. Yeah, I think I get McStupid, but I do love that that the head of the table moniker is up in, in, in in this match. I think, jay, this, this is full circle too, because this is how it all, this is how it started. This is how the bloodline started. How I'm not going and I know who you are this match for me is If this was a pay-per-view and not a PLE, I'd pay 50 bucks to see it. That's how invested I am in Roman Reigns and the bloodline. So how do you think this match is gonna play out and who do you get with him?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 46:48

What do you teach me? A perfect that, I got to say it. Main event, jay, is in your. Yes, sir, I'm, I'm ready for the Empire to fall at this moment. I love if Roman's been able to do he is, he is, you know. His back is probably tied if he is carried this company on his back. The last two years Hell, really, the last five for being, for being truthful. This is a perfect way for it to end. He needs time off me and Roman. So let him come back down some obituary or something like that. Or I don't know if he should have moved me or whatever that might be. That might be the case too. But yeah, it's made of NJ. It's a sign, baby, I don't. I, granted, I know what the travel cop had through with the same. It was so be. You know the first clean finish. I I doubt that. I just hit it Once again. I am a fan of clean finishes. I want us to be clean. I just I doubt it solo, and so I'm gonna get involved. I do think. I think it's a good idea to get involved with Roman and his team and his team and his team, and I think that Roman goes off on solo after he loses in a solo tournament, and that would be the most beautiful end to the story. Once again, things that are logical. You just doesn't happen. So I probably will happen that way, but in my mind and I'm booking it it's Made of NJ, goes over solo, turns on Roman, roman phase, opposite the Sunset for a few months and then comes back.

Michael Marcangelo: 48:26

Okay, okay, so I'm gonna be the dead horse here, but I never want to see Roman Reigns lose because I just, I just love, love, everything that's been doing. But travel combat means that there are no rules. I fully suspect that solo is gonna interfere on behalf of Roman Reigns. Yes, I think it's now or never for this. So you have to have the rock interfere and cost Roman Reigns the match, and that way you get the belt off of Roman J, gets the rub from being in there as well, and we can finally have that rock versus Roman Reigns match, and it will be for a title. So it's not going to be, you know, conclusive as to who's gonna win at WrestleMania in Philadelphia, which I will more than likely be at with ure. But if a rock's there like this, this is now the time to do it. Actors are on strike. He needs good publicity. Bring him in, because that place will go fucking nuts if it looks like Roman has outsmarted or odds are stepped against Jay. And all of a sudden you hear that if you smell, I can't like. What are you going to do?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 49:40

Listen, I'm probably bringing these with me because they're my shades. The child that came with me probably will sit there and cry. Probably Did I cry when the Hardy Boys came back. There's too many 33 like I lost my mind. I just hope that I know what section I'm sitting in. I just hope that I could match. I'm facing the ring where I'm sitting, so I'm hoping that I'm not near the real. I think I've got the other room, can. I fall into the hot bitch's light. I'm falling over. That won't fit. No more co-hosts. Hey, no, it's over, it's over. So I'm hoping that's up to Keith. I'm hoping I'm like towards the other side or something. We're still seeing him come down. Expect the very crazy video of that's the case. There's a video of me going crazy and me yelling in the background like a 10-year-old kid. But yeah, I totally agree. I'd rather see this a Vibra series. But I get it. I understand I was. I'm looking for like a biggie radio and paper chair right now. That's where I'm at. I want that to happen now.

Michael Marcangelo: 50:44

Maybe the raw outfists. I'm a slab maybe, but like this is the raw stuff working right now.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 50:52

Bring him in. Sure, I mean no, no, no, I mean sure, I mean so maybe that's how they look into it. I know he's now. He's now 51. Now I know he's still in great shape, so I don't know where the cardio is. There's different cardio and do-it-yourself movies, as opposed to getting in the ring. I love his one from 2011 to 2014. I thought that he still had it. We're talking about a little while the cardio verbally wasn't great at times, and see, they got it. I'm on the mic, don't worry, rock, it's all the risks. Shout out to the Mizz All for that. But yeah, that would be great. That's the case. Like I said, I settle for this. Randy Orrin and Biggie coming back One of those two coming back. I said, listen if my head and it's smell, or even the Hollywood rock, the Hollywood rock thing, yeah, that would be more subtle, because you know how long that is and it's like you know the helicopters and you're like kiss, oh, that would be. You know that was his best teammate. I know people and he is Hollywood rock Exactly. So I think that would be perfect. And maybe you turn a Roman face after that and you go from there. So, yeah, right.

Michael Marcangelo: 52:14

So, just to be clear, we both have Jay winning this match. Yes, yep, which means that the Romans over the same. The rock's not showing up, and either is Biggie or Roman.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 52:28

I mean it's crazy because they don't have another cousin that's in. He's in different promotion, like, and he's. You know, I know he's using your markers, you know finish. I'm like yo, I think it sucks to just know from being bored here Just out, that would be phenomenal to bring him over there and come into the match and you know that that would be great, that would be great. You know cinema, they're called, and now that would be phenomenal. But you know that's what we're thinking because that's how it happened. So All right.

Michael Marcangelo: 53:00

But before we wrap it up here, right, favorite SummerSlam Nation all time.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 53:05

Oh, hunter and Sean. Oh, too late, there's. No. It's not even. I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. Other there's other matches that have been great. That in that same year, mysterio and Angle were phenomenal, that's the deal. That is just showing how great that card was, that they fucking opened the match, and you know so. And I see, I see set the way, I see Kurt, like Kurt could have been any, oh, and he talked about he's all about it, leave out a minute ago. And I'm like I don't know about you being a go. I mean, you know we definitely wouldn't have been in the top three, maybe tough five, maybe he was that good as well. But yeah, yeah, hunter, yeah, that that, yeah, oh, that's almost a go to. You know the promos up to that. You know the. You know, oh, who beat you up? And oh, it was you. It was like damn right, it was me. You know, because back, you know, when you all be ready, say, uh, summerslam, and it's just like it was just, it was just it was, it was right there. And I said, you know, for you know, come back with them. And I was like this was a. You know, this was a good one.

Michael Marcangelo: 54:08

And he was like I don't think at all and he has been doing a great job. Like this is just so much fun. He worked with the white beater and some jeans and this is like the dude never lost that fucking step. Like I just love it's because he's. He always says you know, I I dress that way because I just didn't know. I didn't know if I could be the old HPK. And Hunter says, within 30 seconds of being in the ring with him, I knew that he had lost the step. That match was. I love that match. I'm glad that we're in an agreement here. Do you have a second? I feel like that should have taken longer. What's your second pair? Summer's on match all the time.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 54:44

Oh, I just second favorite. Did they call Summer's on Highway to Hell at some point?

Michael Marcangelo: 54:49

Yep, there's 98. That's awesome versus Tager.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 54:53

Yeah, so that match. Yeah, I thought that was awesome, obviously Thorn Coder's way high at that moment. Tager had a pretty good run at that time as well. So yeah, that's probably that. And then I said, if we do I just talked about the other match but yeah, angle and Mysterio, that would be my three. So Hunter SPK Offset, taker at 98, Summer's on Slam, and then Taker and Mysterio and Angle. The opening match was just crazy. But we can if you wanted. I feel like which next one would be? I feel like I know you need to say which next one would be.

Michael Marcangelo: 55:30

My next one is actually Cena versus Rollins winner take all, and Henry King, brooklyn. I loved that. I absolutely. I mean I'm not. We talked about this last time. I'm not all for like celebrity, like interference, and John Stewart's not very believable, but the fact that he turned on Cena and Rollins and the place went absolutely holistic. So that's my second favorite. My third favorite is Sean and Razor from 95, the latter match, part two.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 56:01

Got you. Okay, yeah. So it's funny, right? Because it happened the same weekend meeting, on the same weekend that John Stewart turned on yeah, sasha versus Bailey. So that, listening that, regardless of the era, to me that's the top five match ever. Yeah, not women's match Match, no match. Yeah, not women's match, no ever. I watched that match there four times a year and I know what's going to happen. I know, I know that Sasha is going to you know, solve for her hand. I know, I know exactly how it's going to go. I know the kickouts. I know how crowded crowds are going to go crazy. I know that Sasha is going to be crying because she's so happy that her friend won, like it's. So. That was so beautifully put together. That's the top five match that I've ever seen. And, like I said, yeah, the fact that they had energy at that time was just sensational, unbelievable. So, yeah, it was great. So, mm-hmm All right.

Michael Marcangelo: 56:57

So for Ray Sean Buchanan, this is Michael Mark Angel saying enjoy SummerSlam this Saturday, 8 pm Eastern time. Ray was going to be on site to get ready, so make sure you're following us on Twitter threads, instagram, delivering me some crazy ass videos that will do it for K-Fade Critics. We'll talk to you next week.