WRESTLING SOUP

Joe and Anthony break down the chaos surrounding WrestleMania as ticket sales continue to struggle, TKO takes heat from the fanbase, and Monday Night Raw delivers a go-home show that leaves a lot to be desired. From Vegas hotel mini-bar horror stories to the state of WWE's booking, no stone is left unturned. Plus full Raw recap including the Brock/OBA FEMI contract signing, CM Punk and Roman Reigns' go-home promo, Charlotte vs. Bird Girl, Stephanie Vaquer, Liv Morgan's music video, IShowSpeed, and more.0:00 – Intro / WrestleMania Season Chaos0:47 – WrestleMania Ticket Sales Are a Disaster1:49 – TKO's Saudi Arabia Problem3:30 – TKO vs. The Fanbase / Ticketmaster Squeeze6:17 – Would Saudi Fans Even Come to WrestleMania Right Now?7:49 – The Card in a Vacuum / WM Going Cheap8:35 – Roman's Promo Acknowledges the Failure9:03 – Live Ticket Numbers: 3,000+ Still Available11:24 – Vegas Hotel Mini-Bar Horror Story ($400 Gone)27:39 – Raw Recap Begins28:20 – Brock Lesnar / OBA FMI Contract Signing30:45 – OBA FMI's Breakout Promo32:23 – IYO SKY Overworked / Women's Division Thin33:21 – Nikki Bella Possibly Out of WrestleMania45:55 – IShowSpeed, Austin Theory & Logan Paul Segment57:19 – Charlotte vs. Bird Girl (Bayley)1:04:36 – Stephanie Vaquer Promo / Liv Morgan's Music Video1:16:09 – Usos & LA Knight vs. MFTs1:19:07 – IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane / Jade Cargill Discussion1:25:51 – CM Punk & Roman Reigns Go-Home Promo1:29:24 – Outro / WrestleMania Coverage ScheduleBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony kick off with a deep nostalgia dive into classic arcade games, Sega vs. Nintendo rivalries, and the evolution of gaming culture — from beach arcades and LAN parties to streamers and speedrunners. From there, the guys shift into wrestling talk: WWE's creative direction under TKO, the internet's reaction to the worst-rated SmackDown in history, the Jelly Roll/Pat McAfee rumor, the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns buildup, and a full breakdown of the leaked WrestleMania 42 two-night card. Plus: Jade Cargill's PED controversy, Finn Bálor's future, and why WWE keeps putting celebrities over logic.Timestamps:0:00 — Intro & Chucky Doll bit1:02 — One Piece, live action anime, and Michael Bay's Transformers crime4:43 — Sega history: Alex the Kid, Sonic, Altered Beast & Streets of Rage6:42 — The return of arcades & the "third space" crisis18:15 — Watching streamers & gaming content creators19:53 — Chris Chan, internet culture & the cancel cycle20:57 — Pat McAfee's WWE debut reaction & booking confusion33:47 — Jelly Roll reportedly added to the McAfee/Orton feud36:36 — Show intro (better late than never) + responding to comments43:16 — Worst SmackDown ever? YouTube dislikes & fan backlash53:07 — WrestleMania 42 Night One card breakdown1:08:04 — WrestleMania 42 Night Two card breakdown1:43:10 — CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns preview & final thoughtsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 — Intro / Io Sky & WWE's censorship problem1:55 — Tiffany Stratton, Maxine, and chasing the Mandy Rose dragon4:59 — WWE's Puritan censorship on Netflix & the self-inflicted PG problem11:02 — CM Punk's Raw promo: breaking down what worked and why Roman can't respond15:27 — The Pat McAfee SmackDown segment: death rattle wrestling16:55 — Roman Reigns' limitations: prepped but can't improv20:46 — What Roman SHOULD say to get real heat on Punk29:14 — Cody Rhodes crowd backlash & the Randy Orton/Pat McAfee pairing problem37:17 — Why Cody needs to turn heel & the Stephanie McMahon missed opportunity44:29 — Gunther being criminally misused — the Larry Bird analogy51:28 — TKO inserting themselves into creative? Celebrity overload in WWE55:41 — The celebrity problem: Logan Paul, IShowSpeed, Tom Brady & more1:05:52 — AJ Lee's return: is this the right version of her character?1:09:00 — Kairi Sane & Asuka/Damage CTRL situation1:15:24 — Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar: WrestleMania's real main event?1:18:20 — The Goldberg/Brock problem — will they screw up Oba's moment?1:25:47 — Gunther interference theory: Brock puts over two guys on the way out?1:28:35 — How does Seth Rollins ruin the Brock/Oba match?1:32:20 — Pat McAfee's SmackDown ratings bomb & the Ari Emanuel/Stallone comparison1:35:47 — Wrap-up / Alberto Del Rio arrested againBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 — Intro / The Egg Bit1:55 — Breaking Down the New Janelle Grant Filing6:05 — The May 2020 Incident (COVID Timeline)21:59 — Brock Lesnar's Alleged Involvement Begins25:38 — The Beating & What Vince Did to "Prepare" Her32:33 — WrestleMania 3 Weeks Out — What a Mess44:57 — "Hi, This Is Polish Joe" — The Texts Begin1:00:46 — The Suicide Attempt & Vince's Response1:09:21 — Chris Jericho Returns to AEW1:19:08 — John Cena Called Back to Host WrestleManiaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony break down a chaotic Monday Night RAW, tearing into WWE's last-minute WrestleMania card-building in Madison Square Garden. From Dan Hausen's "merch goblin" gimmick to the rushed Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar build. They also dig into the Seth Rollins/Gunther pairing that came out of nowhere, Cody Rhodes getting embarrassed by Stephanie McMahon, CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns feeling backwards, and the overcrowded celebrity situation at WrestleMania. Plus, a tribute mention for Kevin Castle.0:00 – Intro & WWE Building the WrestleMania Card Last Minute0:54 – Is There a Reason WWE Holds the Card Back?1:52 – Dan Hausen / The Merch Goblin Debate5:01 – Dan Hausen as a Meme Wrestler & Internet Crossover5:58 – WWE Signs Ricky Starks & Ethan Page13:31 – MSG Raw Recap: Half the Mania Card Announced in One Night14:32 – The Names on the Ring Canvas Stunt17:50 – John Cena as WrestleMania Host — Desperation or Strategy?20:16 – Seth Rollins vs. Gunther: Where Did This Come From?42:17 – Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar: Rushed & Poorly Built43:30 – "Obama vs. Barack Lesnar" & OBA's Potential Wasted48:34 – Penta & Kofi / The WrestleMania Ladder Match Clusterfuck49:27 – The Vision vs. The Usos & LA Knight Getting Buried Again56:06 – Jelly Roll at WrestleMania: Does It Make Sense?56:23 – Bad Bunny vs. Celebrity Wrestlers: Who Actually Works?58:40 – The Celebrity Royal Rumble Idea1:04:18 – Cody Rhodes Segment: Stephanie McMahon Slaps & Embarrasses Him1:12:14 – Finn Bálor vs. Dominic Mysterio Promo1:15:31 – CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns: Who's the Heel Here?1:17:29 – Roman Should Be Younger to Sell the "Old Man Punk" Angle1:20:39 – Raquel Rodriguez & Eo Sky Scare Moment1:25:43 – Outro & Kevin Castle Memorial Tribute Mention @iamjondraperBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Anthony and Joe kick off with a wild story about a guy who returned an anime figure to eBay — covered in bodily fluids — and claimed "item not as described." From there the boys riff on WWE's $11,500 pasta dinner package at Clash in Italy, the growing list of AEW women who haven't wrestled in years, Ricochet's social media drama, the Bella Army's toxic fandom response, Willow Nightingale's thoughtful take on fan harassment, foot fetish culture, the Roman Reigns/CM Punk/Jay Uso mess on Raw, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch launching a coffee brand, TKO's private equity stranglehold on WWE storytelling, and much more.0:00 – Intro: The eBay anime figure return story6:39 – WWE/MMA crossover: Ronda Rousey & CTE jokes11:40 – WWE Clash in Italy: The $11,500 pasta package14:21 – Which WWE Superstar is making the pasta?26:40 – Breaking angel hair pasta as a heel spot28:44 – Grayson Waller's match on Raw29:40 – TKO's quiet releases & roster bloat30:59 – Motor City Machine Guns wasted in WWE34:23 – Oba Flair references Joe Rogan & Elon Musk37:21 – Conspiracy theories used to be "cute"38:32 – The "jizz" promo on Monday Night Raw39:57 – The Bella Army responds to "most toxic fanbase" list42:49 – Willow Nightingale on fan harassment & AEW security44:33 – Tiffany Stratton's foot guys & the foot fetish community46:48 – Pitch for a foot-fetish slasher movie: "This Little Piggy"55:00 – Willow's thoughtful quote & wasted potential in AEW57:14 – AEW women who haven't wrestled in years (Charlotte Renegade, Ruby Soho, etc.)1:02:43 – WWE as private equity: nobody cares about storytelling1:05:30 – JTG: the all-time king of doing nothing on a contract1:06:37 – Chris Hero told Ricochet to delete the tweet1:11:30 – The Usos promo mess on Raw: who's a heel?1:14:56 – Theory: Jay Uso has a drinking problem storyline1:16:50 – Roman Reigns cheered despite being a clear villain1:17:59 – Gunther has no WrestleMania opponent1:18:39 – Seth & Becky launch "Ammo Coffee"1:20:43 – Roman & CM Punk WrestleMania build: Seth interference prediction1:23:11 – WWE creative isn't bad — they just don't give a f***1:29:59 – AEW as a bottomless money pit vs. WWE as a dried-up sponge1:37:44 – Roman won't insult Punk's dog to protect his merch sales1:39:17 – Outro & Patreon plugBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 – Cold open / Anthony & Joe react to Dave Core; Johnny Ace autograph talk13:57 – Official show intro: "Wrestling Soup, I'm Anthony Thomas, he's Joe Numbers"14:10 – WrestleMania season talk16:12 – AEW's latest PPV: "best PPV ever" discourse & death match wrestling debate21:25 – WWE Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia — should it happen amid Middle East conflict?36:59 – **Main Topic: Ricochet's Twitter controversy** — mocking a fan's MS diagnosis40:30 – What prompted Ricochet's tweets? Full breakdown of the situation56:29 – AEW's silence on Ricochet;57:20 – Sean Ross Sapp defends Ricochet;1:17:28 – **Ted DiBiase Jr. fraud case** — judge denies motion to dismiss; $3M stolen from Mississippi charities1:25:13 – Wrap-up / outro; Gunther has no WrestleMania plans; tomorrow's Frank & Gus episode previewBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 — Intro: Joe getting into the DanHausen thing; the show's chaos0:58 — WrestleMania build losing steam; San Antonio crowd praise2:15 — Randy Orton as the potential savior of WrestleMania's main event2:50 — Stone Cold Steve Austin's no-show on 3:16 Day in Texas5:34 — WWE's 31.6% ticket discount; bad sign for WrestleMania7:07 — Las Vegas WrestleMania costs; hotel prices skyrocketing8:18 — WWE slot machines; Whitney Houston jackpot story10:59 — Road Dogg returning to the ring? OVW referee injury incident14:43 — RAW recap begins; San Antonio crowd was the best of 202615:50 — Seth Rollins opener: henchmen, Brock Lesnar, Oba Femi breakdown19:15 — Oba Femi vs. Brock: rushed booking; should've been saved for SummerSlam20:53 — WWE's impatience problem: the "cookie" analogy22:11 — WWE's new creative director from CBS/NHL background26:52 — Oba Femi's Goldberg comparisons; concern about misuse27:59 — Natty Neidhart vs. Maxine Dupree feud falling apart31:24 — Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee; Bailey discussion35:00 — WWE's lack of blowoff matches; feuds never ending40:23 — Roman Reigns' terrible promo vs. CM Punk; "old" insult from a 40-year-old43:52 — Roman/Punk feud has no story; call for someone to turn heel47:00 — "Make someone a heel, you cowards"; Punk as potential heel49:16 — Roman's dentures; teeth jokes54:11 — Oba Femi possibly tearing up after powerbombing Brock55:37 — Wrapping up RAW; good matches (Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel); Latino appreciation night59:23 — Ricochet segment; why making fun of him gets big views1:03:05 — Sign-off; Patreon plug; see you ThursdayBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

2:00 – State debates: Oklahoma, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Idaho8:00 – Mortgage situation & refusing to give up that 2% COVID rate12:00 – BlackRock's rent-to-give-back communities / modern sharecropping16:00 – Wrestling Soup intro17:00 – Sol Ruca on Stephanie McMahon's podcast; toxic masculinity & male vulnerability in wrestling24:00 – WWE's boomer creative problem & Kirsten's promotion to Raw writer30:00 – Ricky Saints' concert segment pulled from YouTube (w/ clip)37:00 – Zoe Stark promo comparison; conspiracy theory: creative sabotaging indie darlings43:00 – WWE's financial machine vs. creative bankruptcy; WrestleMania apathy50:00 – Nostalgia as WWE's only product (Blink-182 analogy, Reese's cups lawsuit)55:00 – UFC vs. WWE audience divide; WWE trying to be Applebee's1:02:00 – WrestleMania card breakdown: Dominik, Finn Bálor demon, Grande Americano1:07:00 – WrestleMania Vegas attendance concerns; Wrestlecon ticket sales tanking1:12:00 – WWE casino slot machine "Road to Gold" announced1:18:00 – Idea for a "Why Did They Get Fired?" wrestling card game1:22:00 – Dan Hausen debut/interview clip; WWE setting him up to fail1:31:00 – Cody Rhodes losing momentum; Jar Jar Binks / Star Wars prequels analogy1:37:00 – Sam Roberts' transformation; Joe Rogan's moral drift1:42:00 – Dave Chappelle & Bill Cosby extended riff1:29:00 – Sign-off / Patreon & Spitball Media shoutoutBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 - Intro & Seth Rollins' Ninja Army Discussion6:30 - Seth's Henchmen: Power Rangers or Wrestling School Students?13:00 - Logan Paul vs Austin Theory Storyline29:00 - CM Punk Confronts The Usos42:00 - Dead Uncle Drama & Family Feuds57:00 - Seth Rollins Figure Eight Choreography1:18:00 - Judgment Day Turns on Finn Bálor1:29:00 - Oba Femi vs Rusev Match1:42:00 - Dan Hausen T-Shirt Sales Segment1:57:00 - Raw Women's Gauntlet Match2:10 - Penta vs El Grande Americano2:23:00 - WrestleMania Build Criticism2:42:00 - Rusty Loads Country Character Pitch2:58:00 - Wrap Up & Final ThoughtsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

LA Knight's elimination chamber slip and Logan Paul's comments about dangerous ring conditionsWWE uses cheap screen printing instead of proper dye sublimation to save $81K/yearRing canvas ads generate $14-36 million annuallyOne wrestler injury costs more than the entire yearly savingsWWE monetizes every canvas piece: $29-150 plaques, $400 name printing, charity donations, Panini trading cards10% of one canvas generates $288K in merchandise aloneESPN partnership struggles and WrestleMania 42 ticket concerns0:00 - Intro & Road Dog's WWE Departure1:31 - WWE Creative Shakeup: Alexandra Williams Joins Raw6:04 - Zoe Hines Signs with WWE (RFK Jr.'s Niece)8:46 - WWE's Nepo Baby Problem Continues17:25 - LA Knight & Logan Paul Expose Slippery Ring Canvas Issue18:08 - The Ring Canvas Controversy Explained19:12 - Dye Sublimation vs Screen Printing: The Safety Issue20:25 - WWE Makes $10-36 Million Annually from Ring Ads23:36 - The Math: WWE Saves Only $81K/Year with Cheap Canvas25:50 - One Injury Costs $1-3 Million - The Dangerous Gamble28:51 - WWE Sells Used Canvases for Hundreds of Thousands31:06 - The $400 Name-on-Canvas Program at MSG34:43 - Fanatics Partnership: Maximum Exploitation38:38 - 10% of One Canvas = $288K in Merch Revenue42:15 - Charity Donations: Another Revenue Stream45:31 - Panini Trading Cards: Even Scraps Make Money48:54 - ESPN/WWE Partnership Struggles & WrestleMania 42 Concerns52:37 - Vegas Venue Broadcast Restrictions Backfire1:02:05 - Dan Hausen Merch Sales Surprise WWE1:09:16 - Tom Brady WrestleMania Rumors1:18:25 - WWE's Priorities Problem & Corporate Greed DiscussionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

• The Vision falling apart & Seth Rollins' new role• CM Punk vs Roman Reigns WrestleMania build• Rhea Ripley's breakup with Iyo Sky• Jade Cargill's backstage heat & Twitter drama• Gunther vs Dragon Lee - great match, wrong timing• Dan Hausen's WWE debut & mixed reactions• Penta wins North American Championship!• WrestleMania card concerns0:00 - Intro / Demolition Theme Parody2:43 - Raw Recap Begins / WrestleMania Road Concerns5:30 - The Vision Falls Apart / Seth Rollins Turn11:02 - Roman Reigns vs CM Punk Promo Analysis25:58 - Restaurant Analogies (Denny's vs Bob Evans)38:58 - Logan Paul & Austin Theory's Future50:15 - Gunther vs Dragon Lee Discussion58:28 - Liv Morgan's Problematic Promo1:03:00 - Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky Split Up1:09:38 - Jade Cargill vs Rhea Twitter Drama1:16:38 - Kyrie Sane & Asuka Segment Issues1:23:30 - AJ Lee Promo Problems1:27:43 - El Grande Americano vs Los Lotharios1:30:23 - Dan Hausen WWE Debut Review1:33:48 - Judgment Day & JD McDonagh1:36:50 - Oscar & Kyrie Domestic Abuse Angle1:39:30 - Obba Femi vs Rusev Setup1:42:09 - Obba Femi Meet & Greet Controversy1:46:41 - Penta vs Dominic Mysterio - Match of the Night!1:32:40 - Final Thoughts & Wrap UpBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 - Intro & Snake Song0:58 - Show Begins: Initial Thoughts on Elimination Chamber1:32 - Women's Elimination Chamber Match Discussion3:46 - Tiffany Stratton Problems & Kiana James Debut7:40 - Raquel Rodriguez & Rhea Ripley's Size Discussion13:10 - Champion Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee (Women's IC Title)22:42 - AJ Lee's Legacy & Career Retrospective31:06 - CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor (World Heavyweight Championship)38:47 - Judgment Day's Future & Storyline Direction46:20 - Dan Hausen's Box Debut Disaster54:26 - Masked Man Reveal: Seth Rollins Returns59:36 - Men's Elimination Chamber Match1:03:32 - LA Knight's Botch & Push Discussion1:11:26 - Logan Paul as a Heel & Celebrity Wrestlers1:14:22 - Randy Orton Wins & WrestleMania Implications1:23:20 - Overall Show Grades & Final ThoughtsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Join Joe and Anthony for another unfiltered episode of Wrestling Soup! This week we're diving into:🚗 Vince McMahon's wild Bentley crash and police encounter🤝 Saudi Arabia's growing relationship with WWE💰 Netflix vs Paramount Skydance battle for Warner Brothers Discovery (and what it means for AEW)📺 AEW's uncertain future and declining ratings👨‍👧 Eddie Guerrero's daughter calling out Vickie over memorabilia sales📝 AJ Styles signs new WWE deal to coach young talent🤳 Austin Theory's cringe "critics" promo and Paul Heyman's defense🏆 Full WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 predictionsPlus: Dan Hausen rumors, Tony Khan's glory, Julia Hart's mysterious disappearance from TV, and why we think Triple H is creating a whole new generation of wrestlers who'll eventually call him names.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Vince McMahon WWE Rumors0:06 - Vince's Bentley Crash & Police Stop0:47 - Saudi Arabia & WWE's Growing Relationship2:06 - Old Owners & Vince's Wild Driving10:03 - AEW Ratings Discussion10:14 - Netflix/Warner Brothers/Paramount Drama13:36 - What This Means for AEW's Future21:24 - Tony Khan & AEW Future Scenarios30:33 - Sherlyn Guerrero vs Vickie Drama33:20 - Eddie Guerrero Memorabilia Controversy43:33 - AJ Styles New WWE Deal46:04 - Austin Theory's "Critics" Promo47:01 - Paul Heyman Defends Austin Theory51:12 - Charisma vs Work Ethic Debate1:01:50 - WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 Card1:02:00 - Becky Lynch vs AJ Lee1:04:24 - CM Punk vs Finn Balor1:08:44 - Women's Elimination Chamber Match1:24:45 - Men's Elimination Chamber Match1:28:48 - Final Predictions & OutroBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

0:00 Intro - Seth Rollins Curse & CM Punk Promo1:05 Vince McMahon Saudi Buyback Rumors5:45 Price Gouging & WrestleMania Tickets9:55 Bronson Reed Injury & Learning Limitations15:31 The Vision Falling Apart22:30 Brock Lesnar Emergency Break Glass29:00 Atlanta Crowd Dead All Night38:25 AJ Styles Tribute Show & Missing Kurt Angle48:25 Jade Cargill Standing Around1:00:45 Prices vs Quality Debate1:18:45 The Last WrestleMania Theory1:24:15 WrestleMania 18 Ticket Prices Comparison1:29:05 Too Big To Fail ProblemBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Join Anthony and Joe for another episode of Frank and Gus! In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Chicago weather, real estate nightmares in Gary Indiana, the Bears stadium controversy, Boston development projects, and plenty of wrestling talk including WWE's creative direction, Tony Khan speculation, and listener voicemails.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Weather Talk5:30 - Gary, Indiana Real Estate Discussion15:45 - Bears Stadium Controversy22:30 - Boston Development & MLS Stadium32:15 - Illinois Ghost Towns & Infrastructure40:20 - Maine Travel Plans45:50 - Listener Voicemail: VPN & Original Content50:10 - Listener Voicemail: Brett the Hitman on Barbecues54:20 - Listener Voicemail: Recent Movies58:35 - Listener Voicemail: Vacuum Update Request1:00:45 - Listener Voicemail: Lyra Valkyria Storyline Ideas1:04:30 - Listener Voicemail: Enzo Amore Return Discussion1:08:15 - Listener Voicemail: WrestleMania Season Concerns1:12:40 - WWE Creative & Scripted Promos Discussion1:25:30 - College Athletes & NIL Program1:32:50 - The Miz Success Story1:37:20 - Wrap Up & Commercials TalkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Joe and Anthony discuss wrestling news, celebrity culture, and random tangents in this wide-ranging conversation. Topics include Mercedes Mone's controversial fan subscription service, WWE's new wrestler trademarks, bad bunny's WrestleMania appearance, chain restaurant quality decline, baby naming trends, and a domestic violence case involving wrestler El ReAro and Stephanie Faher. The hosts also dive into Logan Paul's Pokemon card controversy, regional differences in fast food quality, and AEW's handling of the Brody Lee tribute merchandise.Timestamps0:00 - Intro banter and Mercedes Monet discussion1:14 - Mercedes Monet $100/month text service controversy2:54 - Wendy's closing 360 locations4:42 - Chain restaurant quality decline (Applebee's, Chili's, Five Guys)9:14 - Wahlburgers and Fuddruckers discussion12:14 - Ted movie and TV series15:50 - Boston references and Mercedes Monet's accent20:23 - Royce Keys Royal Rumble "secret"24:30 - Bad Bunny WrestleMania 42 appearance29:31 - Logan Paul Pokemon card controversy33:30 - Pokemon name discussion38:51 - WWE new trademarks: Dorian Van Dix and Tristan Angels40:55 - Baby naming trends discussion52:38 - El Rero domestic violence case and Stephanie Faher64:30 - WWE European tour and Saudi Arabia show81:17 - Seth Rollins press tour and Shawn Michaels comparison90:25 - AEW Brody Lee shirt controversy and wrap-upBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Join Anthony and Joe on Wrestling Soup as they break down the latest WWE Raw episode! This week we're diving into:🔥 Raw's main event featuring Jovan Evans, Gunther, and Dominic Mysterio🎤 JBL and Corey Graves' commentary chemistry💬 Mercedes Monet's controversial $99.99 texting service🏆 The Intercontinental Championship picture with AJ Lee and Becky Lynch🤼 El Grande Americano storyline developments👊 CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor tensions heating up🎭 Liv Morgan's emotional sit-down interview with Michael Cole📰 Dave Meltzer Awards fallout and Booker T's responsePlus: Ava's WWE departure, Logan Paul's heat, the women's chamber match setup, and plenty of tangents about everything from Moloch to dude wipes!WWE #WrestlingSoup #Raw #Wrestling #PodcastTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro & Weather Talk00:00:45 - Presidents Week & Moloch Discussion00:02:29 - Giants, Pyramids & Lizard People Theory00:04:49 - Cat Stories & Domestication00:07:23 - Raw This Week & JBL/Corey Graves Commentary00:09:50 - Booker T & Dave Meltzer Awards00:12:15 - Ava's WWE Departure Discussion00:16:51 - Don Callis Appreciation00:19:51 - Mercedes Monet's $99.99 Texting Service00:24:28 - Dude Wipes Sponsorship Talk00:37:20 - Raw Main Event: Jovan Evans, Gunther & Dominic00:47:20 - Logan Paul & LA Knight Segment00:52:00 - CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor Feud01:00:20 - Women's Three-Way Match (Asuka, Bailey, Natalya)01:03:42 - Asuka & Kairi Sane Storyline01:14:40 - El Grande Americano Storyline01:20:00 - Penta & Dragon Lee Discussion01:33:00 - AJ Lee & Becky Lynch Promo Breakdown01:34:20 - Liv Morgan Sit-Down Interview with Michael Cole01:35:00 - Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods01:34:45 - Wrap-Up & Final ThoughtsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

2:00 - WrestleMania Ticket Pricing Controversy Analysis of WWE's expensive WrestleMania packages in Las Vegas5:00 - Vegas Travel Costs & Accessibility Issues How expensive flights and accommodations are affecting WrestleMania attendance10:00 - WWE's Disconnect with Fan Base Discussion of WWE being out of touch with their core audience's economic reality15:00 - Physical Media Comeback DVDs, records, and CDs returning due to streaming concerns20:00 - WrestleMania Package Breakdown Detailed look at the $37,500 premium packages and what they include30:00 - Economic Reality Check Comparing ticket prices to actual fan income levels and affordability38:00 - The 2025 Dave Meltzer Wrestling Awards39:00 - Worst Gimmicks Top 5 including Heel John Cena (#1), Wyatt Sicks (#2), House of Torture (#3)42:00 - Toni Storm takes both worst (#4) and best (#1) gimmick awards43:00 - Best Booker of the Year Tony Khan wins despite AEW's struggles46:00 - Worst Promotion WWE takes the top spot48:00 - Best Major Wrestling Shows All top 5 are AEW shows (All In, Double or Nothing, Revolution, All Out, Stardom)50:00 - Worst TV Shows WWE NXT (#1), SmackDown (#2), with AEW Collision making the list at #558:00 - Best Non-Wrestlers Don Callis (#1), Paul Heyman (#2), discussion of manager roles60:00 - Worst TV Announcers Booker T (#1), Pat McAfee (#2), debate about commentary styles73:00 - Best TV Announcers Bryan Danielson (#1), Walker Stewart (#2), discussion of commentary quality85:00 - Most Overrated Wrestlers Jay Uso (#1), CM Punk (#2), Jade Cargill (#3)88:00 - Most Underrated Wrestlers Beast Mortos (#1), Chevon Evans (#2)90:00 - Best Flying Wrestler Mascara Dorada (#1), Will Ospreay (#2)91:00 - Best Technical Wrestler Zack Sabre Jr. (#1), discussion of technical wrestling standards95:00 - Best Brawler John Moxley & Hangman Adam Page tie for top spots98:00 - Wrestler of the Year (Lou Thesz Award) Mistico (#1), John Moxley (#3), Saya Kamitani (#4), John Cena (#5)99:30 - Closing RemarksBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.

Timestamps:0:27 - AEW News: Ishii & Orange Cassidy/Bad Bunny1:52 - Masked Man Speculation & Paul Heyman's Expectations9:30 - Vince Russo's Take on Stephanie Vaquer Speaking Spanish12:02 - Super Bowl Halftime Show & Language in Wrestling20:30 - Generational Gaps & Randy Orton's Evolution27:30 - Undertaker at Bad Bunny's Concert & Presidential Wrestling Fantasy Booking32:55 - AEW's "Abolish ICE" Shirt Controversy & Brody King50:50 - Mercedes Moné's Vacation & Stem Cell Treatment54:30 - Zack Sabre Jr. Coming Out & Daniel Garcia Roasting59:50 - Tomaso Ciampa Joins AEW & Loses Title 8 Days Later1:14:20 - Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch's Coffee Business1:22:30 - Undertaker as a Latino & Wrap-UpThis 85-minute episode covers everything from AEW's latest signings to wild hypothetical wrestling scenarios. Don't miss the hilarious presidential wrestling faction discussion and the deep dive into why wrestlers are launching coffee brands!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.