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KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT
AUGUST 13, 2018
GREENSBORO, N.C.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
Announcers: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Tonight after WWE Raw, join me live with guest cohost Jason Australia to break down the show with live callers, mailbag, and a live on-site correspondent from Jacksonville.
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[HOUR ONE]
-After the generic WWE opening, Cole introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd. They showed a banner on the screen saying they were in Greensboro, but Cole didn’t mention the city.
-Ronda Rousey came out to her music. (In the leather jacket, big smile, and putting her hand on her heart, she reminds me a little too much of Eric Bischoff’s schtick as a heel back in the day.) They went on camera to Cole and Graves. Cole said Coach was on assignment and he welcomed Renee Young to the team. She said she was thrilled knowing how many great names had sat in the announce desk chair she’d be in tonight.
Back in the ring, a “Ronda Rousey” chant started. She solemnly said today Natalya’s father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, died. She said fathers are a pillar of strength in a hostile world and our reassurance that everything is going to be okay, “but when that reassurance is ripped away, they have to face the fact that our fathers have been raising us to be the pillar of strength our families need when they are gone.” She told Natalya Neidhart to stay strong. “We all love you,” she said.
She said Nattie was the first person to welcome her in the door and she’d be the first to defend her in her absence. She said Alexa Bliss cheated to beat Natalya time and time again. She said this Sunday at Summerslam, she’ll beat Alexa to become their new Raw Women’s Champion. She seemed welled up with emotions. Then she took a deep breath and introduced Ember Moon.
Moon entered the ring and had a brief hug with Ronda. Then Bliss’s music played and she walked out with Alicia Fox. Bliss stood on the stage and told Rousey to make all the friends she wants because her good times were about to to come to an end. Bliss said people are telling her on social media that Rousey beating her at Summerslam is a foregone conclusion. Bliss said she’s a five-time women’s champion whereas Rousey’s had three matches and is an “overrated, overhyped rookie.” She called her spoiled. “Yeah, I said it,” she added. She said Summerslam will be utter humiliation, not her crowning moment.
Bliss continued, “While we’re at it, while we’ve got the ball rolling, I’m sick and tired of hearing about you. I’m sick and tired of seeing that dumb face you make week after week after week every time you come out here. Grrrrr. Yeah, Ronda, I can do it, too.” She said she’s sick of Kurt Angle coming out and protecting everyone except his Women’s Champion. She talked about Angle kicking Roman Reigns out of the building to protect Brock Lesnar, but he let Rousey sit ringside during a match with Ember. She said Rousey attacks people and breaks rules and has even been suspended, but he let her sit at ringside anyway. She said she’s spoken to “the only authority figure who knows what he’s doing and is actually fair,” Constable Corbin. She suggested she hire her own personal security. She called out four security guards. She said they are highly trained and highly aggressive, so don’t try anything.
Graves applauded Corbin’s suggestion. Renee said, “Of course those two would be friends, Alexa Bliss, Baron Corbin.” Young said Angle can sometimes pick favorites, but nothing like Corbin does. Bliss and Fox entered the ring after security created a wall of men center-ring. Graves asked Renee: “You’re a little more fashion-forward than I am; why is Alicia Fox dressed like Kale.” Renee said she wasn’t sure and said Fox makes some questionable fashion decisions now and then. Bliss shoved Moon into Rousey, who flew off the ring apron. Rousey charged into the ring, but the security guys blocked her. Rousey took them down with judo throws and punches. Three of them went down and the fourth guy got bug-eyed and leaped out of the ring. Fox stepped up to Rousey, who judo tossed her. Bliss bailed out. “Oww-ahh!” shouted Fox, hilariously. Rousey’s music played.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fun segment with everyone doing a really good job playing their roles. Rousey seemed really genuine in talking about Natalya. Fox was her usual crazy self. Bliss hit hard verbally. Rousey’s flurry of offense was a good exclamation mark at the end of the segment. The security guy going bug-eyed was almost slapstick corny in tone, but didn’t quite cross that line so it worked well.) [c]
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(1) EMBER MOON (w/Ronda Rousey) vs. ALEXA BLISS (w/Alicia Fox)
Renee said she’s a big fan of Moon. A minute into the match they went to a split screen with a video package on the Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar match at Summerslam. Bliss settled into a side headlock. Moon pushed out of it and knocked Bliss hard to the mat and took over. When Bliss bailed out to ringside, Moon slidekicked her hard and then threw her into the ring. A minute later, after a step-up enzuigiri, Bliss rolled to ringside again. Rousey walked toward her. They cut to a break. [c]
Back live Moon rolled up Bliss for a quick two count. Bliss took Moon down with a clothesline a minute later and scored a two count, then settled into a chinlock. After a few slaps, Moon fired up and went after Bliss aggressively and scored a two count. When Fox began to enter the ring, Rousey yanked her down and threw her into the ringside barricade. Bliss attacked Rousey at ringside and threw her into the barricade. Moon surprised Bliss back in the ring with a gut-buster and then leaped off the top rope with an Eclipse. Fox “broke up the pin” before the ref hit the third count. The ref DQ’d Fox when she entered the ring and attacked Moon.
WINNER: Moon via DQ.
-Rousey then took Fox over with three hard arm drags and stood in the ring looking down at Bliss and Fox as her music played. Moon was still KO’d on her back on the mat from Fox’s post-match big boot.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action throughout with a lot of shenanigans especially at the end, but it all made sense in hyping the Summerslam match. Fox absolutely needed to do a better job of breaking up that pin, though. It put Bliss and Moon in a bad spot that she barely affected the cover and Bliss had to roll up her shoulders after Moon let up her cover for no apparent reason.)
-Cole hyped the Dolph Ziggler-Seth Rollins contract signing later. Renee plugged The B-Team vs. The Revival vs. The Deleters of Worlds in a triple threat tag match. [c]
-They went to the announcers on camera who threw to a video package on Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar’s recent apparent breakup including Renee’s sit-down interview with Heyman. They actually aired the intriguing closing comment from Heyman that suggested Reigns couldn’t win “unless…” at which point he stopped and left as Renee asked what he was going to say.
(Keller’s Analysis: I still wonder what was the intent behind not airing that closing comment from Heyman last week on Raw and instead releasing it online and then airing it this week.)
Back to the announcers live, Graves wondered what Heyman meant. Renee didn’t know. Cole plugged that Roman Reigns would be on Raw later. When his face appeared on the big screen, fans booed and cheered.
-Backstage Angle told Corbin he can’t believe with everything going on tonight that he’d go behind his back with Stephanie McMahon. Corbin said he didn’t care, and he was headed to the ring. In walked Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. Ziggler said they heard Seth hadn’t shown up yet. Angle said Seth had a p.r. tour of China and then had some travel issues, but he’d be by tonight. He told Ziggler and McIntyre to go wait someplace else.
-Corbin made his ring entrance as Cole hyped NXT Takeover Brooklyn IV. He said limited tickets were still available. [c]
(2) TYLER BREEZE vs. CONSTABLE CORBIN
Cole said Corbin hand-picked Breeze to be his opponent. The announcers talked about Corbin attempting to demean Finn Balor for his size. Some fans had a “Let’s Go Corbin / Corbin sucks” dueling chant going on, which drew a smile and some taunts from Corbin. Then he went back to stomping away at Breeze on the mat. Graves said Corbin feeds off of the jeers from the “WWE Universe.” When Graves said he brought Corbin lunch and they had a good conversation, Renee said, “I like how you are literally the only person who is friends with him here.” Cole said Corbin walks around like he owns the place. Breeze flipped out of Corbin’s grip at ringside and kicked him. Back in the ring, he flew at Corbin, but Corbin hit the Deep Six out of mid-air for the win.
WINNER: Corbin in 4:00.
-After the match, Corbin said, “I am good, and that was just a small taste of what I’m going to do to Finn Balor this Sunday at Summerslam.” He said it’s time for Balor to show what he can do against Jinder Mahal. Mahal walked out with Sunil Singh. Cole said Jinder is the same size as Corbin and this will be a good test for Balor. He said Balor fancies himself a big man and a big star, so he thinks he’d be fine handling two Superstars at once. He suggested a handicapped match with Kevin Owens also in the match. Renee called it an abuse of authority. Owens made his way to the ring. [c]
Angle said Stephanie may have approved the match, “but I make matches around here.” He said he can’t cancel the match, but he can add to it. Corbin was upset as Angle announced Braun Strowman as Finn’s partner. The crowd cheered as Strowman walked out. Jinder, Owens, and Singh regrouped at ringside.
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[HOUR TWO]
(3) FINN BALOR & BRAUN STROWMAN vs. KEVIN OWENS & JINDER MAHAL (w/Sunil Singh)
Renee said she admires Jinder’s “Monday Meditation.” Graves said Jinder has taught him yoga as well. (This feels like DDP gimmick infringement!) The heel duo isolated Balor as they tagged in and out. At 3:00 Balor tagged in Strowman. Owens ran over and immediately tagged Jinder. Strowman knocked Jinder off the ring apron and then threw him into the ring. Owens hid in the crowd. Jinder fought back briefly, but Strowman dropped him hard with a palm to the chest. Balor tagged back in. Strowman surprised Balor by slamming him onto Jinder for a two count. Balor dropkicked Jinder, who rolled to ringside. Balor then ran the ropes, but Owens tried to trip him. Balor stopped and turned to stare at Owens. Strowman pursued Owens. Balor then flip dove onto both Jinder and Owens at ringside. [c]
During the break, Jinder took over with an elbow to the throat. He had Balor grounded. Cole mentioned they were in Greensboro and again noted that Renee was sitting in for Coach this week. They cut to a split screen of a commercial hyping NXT Takeover Brooklyn with a focus on Johnny Gargano challenging Tomasso Ciampa and Kairi Sane challenging Shayna Baszler. Balor hit a slingblade on Owens and then hot-tagged Strowman. Jinder also tagged in. Strowman knocked Jinder down with shoulder tackles and also knocked Owens off the ring apron. He charged at ringside and drove Singh into Owens. Back in the ring, Jinder avoided a corner splash and then kneed Strowman. Strowman quickly caught Jinder and powerslammed him for the win.
WINNERS: Strowman & Balor in 14:00.
-Balor couldn’t even stand after the match as he tried to celebrate with Strowman. Strowman chased Owens to the back. Corbin then attacked Balor from behind and applauded his own blindside. “You still suck!” chanted fans. Corbin kept applauding himself as he walked to the back.
-After some plugs by the announcers for upcoming Raw segments, they cut backstage to Angle on the phone who called Seth and left a voicemail asking him to call him back. Ziggler and McIntyre walked up and said Seth is obviously scared. Ziggler said if Seth doesn’t show up and sign the contract, their Summerslam match wouldn’t be official. Ziggler said that’d be so sad. Angle assured them Seth would be there. Ziggler asked to get an early look at the contract “to see what else fell through the cracks due to your incompetence.” Ziggler tricked Angle into thinking he misspelled Ziggler. Angle called them idiots.
-They showed Bobby Lashley jogging in place backstage. Graves said he was up next. [c]
-Jo Jo introduced Ricky Roberts, a guy sitting mid-ring with a guitar dressed up as a country singer (who is actually indy wrestler John Skyler). He said some day he’ll be good at playing guitar and he’ll find himself in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and when that day comes, Elias will come to his face and say the magical words. Elias then interrupted. Roberts looked thrilled. Elias sat on a stool on the stage and asked what he was looking at. He went on and on about himself and his live performance at Gramercy Theater this Saturday night in New York City. He got the crowd to say “Walk With Elias” twice. He talked about the Tar Heels, which got a mixed response. He called Greensboro a “piece of garbage.” That drew boos. He was then interrupted by Lashley.
Lashley entered the ring and told Roberts they already have a no-talent clown who plays the guitar, so he’ll need to find a new gig. He handed the ref the mic and turned around. Roberts bashed Lashley on his back with the guitar. Lashley didn’t sell it. He turned slowly and gave Roberts a high one-armed spinebuster and then left to his music.
-Backstage Curtis Axel asked Bo Dallas what was bothering him. Bo said it’s hard for him to be positive after he figured out the odds of them winning tonight are lower than usual. He said they face two teams and they don’t even have to pin them to take the titles. He said their chances of winning are 33.3333 percent. Axel asked where he came up with that. Bo said he did it long-hand and even DM’d some mathematicians on Twitter. Axel said math didn’t get them to where they are, teamwork did. Axel said even if they lose, it’s been the best run of their lives. He said they should get out there and “run for our lives.” They yelled B-Team!
-Deleters of Worlds came out first to their ring entrance. Cole threw to a trailer for “Mile 22,” a movie that includes Ronda Rousey. [c]
-Ziggler and McIntyre were shown examining the fine print in the contract.
-The Revival made their ring entrance. Graves predicted they’d win the titles. Finally, B-Team made their entrance: “B-Team! B-Team! Go! Go! Go!”
(4) THE B-TEAM vs. THE DELETER OF WORLDS (Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt) vs. THE REVIVAL (Dash & Dawson) – WWE Tag Team Title match
They did formal ring introductions. They cut to a break a few minutes in. [c]
Back from the break, Hardy superplexed Dawson off the top rope onto a crowd of the rest of the wrestlers at ringside. Bray set up a double Sister Abigail on Dash and Dawson, but they hit Shatter Machine on Bray. Axel, though, was the legal man and he threw Revival out of the ring and made the cover and got the win.
WINNERS: B-Team in 11:00 to retain the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: B-Team’s promo and exuberant innocence is a lot of fun, and their act isn’t running out of steam, but seems to be gaining some.)
-They showed Roman Reigns getting ready to walk to the ring when B-Team celebrated past him. He shook his head like they were crazy. [c]
-Backstage Angle asked Ziggler and McIntyre if they were happy with the contract. Ziggler said everybody knows he plays favorites. Ziggler complained that the challenger Seth is entitled to have someone in his corner for their match. Angle said he could take that clause out, but Drew wouldn’t be allowed out there. Ziggler said it’s fine, and it really doesn’t matter because Seth won’t show up anyway.
(Keller’s Analysis: That seems to tip us all off that Dean Ambrose will show up in Seth’s corner. Does he help Seth win or turn heel on Seth?)
-Reigns came out to a mixed reaction. Cole said many are calling Summerslam the biggest match of his career. Cole said it will be a match for the ages. Renee said he’s a focused, determined man right now.
[HOUR THREE]
Reigns stood center-ring and soaked up some cheers and then an increasing volume of boos. “Leave this place better than I found it,” he said. He repeated himself, then said he tells himself that every day. He said the truth is he’s never going to be able to accomplish that goal with Brock Lesnar there. He said it’s time for Lesnar to go. Cheers and boos. He said he’s sick of hearing about him and talking about him and looking at him and the lies and rumors. He said it ends this Sunday at Summerslam. He said he’s taking back his Universal Title at Summerslam. He said he’ll send Lesnar so far back into the UFC, “he’s going to find his head stuck in Dana White’s ass.” Paul Heyman then interrupted.
Heyman swaggered out with a smile and said it’s a new day, yes it is. He said if he was going to steal a line, he’d steal a line from the Usos, because they’re the future of the tag team division. He said speaking of the future of a division, he’s laying his eyes on the number one contender for the Universal Title right now. He entered the ring. Reigns said, “You just be confused, but this is going to be good, y’all.” He accused Heyman of “crying on cue” last week. He said he’s interested in seeing what he does tonight. He asked Heyman to enter the ring. Heyman approached him in a navy blue suit. He told Reigns he can start making history right here, right now tonight. He said he almost let it slip out last week to Renee that Reigns doesn’t stand a chance against this Lesnar unless “something.” He said he’d now drop the other shoe. “Unless he has Paul Heyman tell him each and every one of Brock Lesnar’s dirty little secrets.” He said he can do that for Reigns. He said with him in his corner, he’d be guaranteed to win the Universal Title. “Not a guarantee, but a spoiler,” he said.
Heyman extended his hand. Fans chanted “Yes!” Reigns said Paul doesn’t get it. He said he beat Brock in Saudi Arabia and he doesn’t need his help. He said the match would have ended a lot quicker in Saudi Arabia if it weren’t for Heyman. Heyman said, “Guilty as charged.” He said he wasn’t there to talk about the past. He said he is a visionary who sees the future and he sees exactly one week from this moment, after he slays The Beast at Summerslam, they stand side-by-side to celebrate on Raw. Heyman invited Reigns to stand next to him, but Reigns didn’t budge. Heyman then introduced himself as the advocate for the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.” Reigns looked like he just took a bite out of a sour apple. Some fans chanted “Yes!” again.
Reigns said Heyman is trying, but it’s not good enough. He said he was groomed at a very young age for this position. He said his dad taught him how to swim with sharks in this business, but also how to recognize a shark drowning because those are the most dangerous. Reigns said Heyman is drowning, but he’s just not worth saving. “Good luck in your future endeavors,” he said.
Heyman said he is drowning in knowledge he learned when he was 15, 16, and 17 years old, riding in the car with his uncle Afa and his father Sika. He said his father taught him on those car rides, in Samoan, some lessons. Heyman repeated some words in Samoan. Reigns seemed shaken and moved by what he said. Heyman said he prepared an agreement in principle. He said there’s no pressure and no games. He asked Reigns to look it over. He said he could just give him his answer this Sunday at Summerslam. Reigns accepted the sheet of paper apprehensively and read it. Fans were quiet. Heyman then sprayed Reigns with mace or pepper spray. Reigns covered his eyes and rubbed his face and gasped for breath. Cole asked what Heyman was thinking and why he’d do that. Graves said he doesn’t like hearing the word “no.” Cole did his unauthentic sounding stuttering bit and said Heyman didn’t even give Reigns the chance to answer. Suddenly Brock Lesnar’s music played and he marched to the ring. He handed Heyman his belt as he walked past him at ringside.
Lesnar entered the ring and smiled at the defenseless by Reigns. Cole said it was an elaborate ruse by Heyman. He kneed Reigns over and over until Reigns was face down on the mat. Graves said if you can’t see, you can’t fight. Cole said it was just terrible. Lesnar put Reigns in a triangle choke as “that sick Heyman looks on in the background,” said Cole. “Pathetic!” Graves said Heyman had him convinced. Cole said it was a cowardly attack because Reigns was defenseless. When it seemed it was over and Lesnar was heading to the back with a gloating Heyman, Lesnar returned to the ring and gave Reigns an F5.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good angle. They set up Reigns from the start as being skeptical that Heyman and Lesnar had really broken up, saying Heyman “cried on cue” last week. The words by Heyman in Samoan led to a reaction by Reigns that hinted he might be considering Heyman’s offer because of what he said and that his dad did seem to go way back with Heyman. The spray to the eyes came as Reigns seemed to be considering the offer Heyman presented to him, which could be seen as a crack in the veneer of Reigns’s resolve to never align with Heyman. But in the end, it’s all been a journey to try to get more heel heat on Lesnar and build more sympathy for Reigns. The effort is there, and the test will come on Sunday.) [c]
-They replayed the Reigns-Lesnar angle.
(5) MOJO RAWLEY & THE AUTHORS OF PAIN vs. TITUS O’NEAL & APOLLO CREWS & BOBBY ROODE
They went to this match in progress, and then soon thereafter they cut to a split screen ad for Summerslam’s Raw Women’s Title match. Roode finished Rawley with a Glorious DDT.
WINNERS: Roode & Crews & Titus in 3:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: If Mojo was ever in for a push, this week is another sign it’s being withdrawn again.)
-Young hyped her IC Title contract signing later.
-They showed medics tending to Reigns backstage. [c]
-The announcers introduced a video feature on Jim Neidhart’s life and career. Afterward, Graves said he was one of his favorites as a kid. Renee said she knows Natalya well and knows what an amazing father and husband Jim was. Cole then threw to a plug for Summerslam.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice video tribute. A good mix of career highlights and personal family photos.)
-They replayed the Bliss-Rousey segment earlier in the night.
(6) SASHA BANKS (w/Bayley) vs. RUBY RIOTT (w/Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan)
Page knocked Banks into the ringside steps and then kicked the steps with Sasha’s hand caught in the stair handles. The ref ordered Riott back into the ring, but she ignored the ref and yanked Sasha into the ring by her hair. They cut to a break with Riott driving her knee into Sasha’s arm. [c]
Sasha flip dove onto Logan at ringside. Cole sold it big time. Sasha the kneed Ruby from the ring apron, but Morgan yanked her off the ring apron. Bayley attacked Morgan. Riott, though, kicked Banks as she re-entered the ring and scored the three count.
WINNERS: Riott in 8:00.
-They showed images of Seth on his p.r. tour in China including various talk show and media appearances.
-Backstage a backstage worker told Angle that there’s no sign of Seth yet. Corbin said the IC Title match is at risk because he waited until the last possible minute to make if official. He said Stephanie will be mad. [c]
-Angle stood mid-ring and said he was told Reigns is cleared to wrestle on Sunday. There wasn’t exactly a big crowd pop. Or any crowd pop. He said he won’t suspend Lesnar or strip him of the title, but instead he’ll let Reigns beat him at Summerslam. He said he is rooting for Reigns to win because Lesnar is the worst Universal Champion of all-time. Ziggler and McIntyre walked out. Ziggler said it’s time to move on. McIntyre said if Reigns is still half-blind, Angle will prop him up at Summerslam and send him to the ring to save his job.
[OVERRUN]
Angle said he was about to introduce them if they would have been patient. Angle then introduced Seth. There was a pause without music or any sign of Seth. Ziggler said Seth knew he couldn’t beat them, so he quit. McIntyre said they respect Seth. He said they formed their alliance to eradicate complacency. He said making it to Raw is when the hard work begins. He said some of them seem to think making it to Raw means they can coast. He said they respect Seth because he fought to prove he was the best, which made them work even harder to prove they were that much better. He said Seth was the architect of his downfall because of that. Ziggler said he pushed himself too hard for the fans. Ziggler went on about pleasing the fans who can’t be pleased enough and how because of them the vicious cycle will repeat itself. He said for the first time in his life, someone has his back. He yelled regarding McIntyre, “This psychopath eggs me on and pushes me to outdo myself and this title every single night for the betterment of his company and for the betterment of our time in this world.” He said he doesn’t care about the fans and he doesn’t care about stealing the show anymore. He said they did what they want and took the whole damn thing over.
Ziggler asked Angle to hand him the contact so they can make it an official Seth Rollins forfeit. Angle handed Ziggler the folder with the contract. Fans chanted “Burn it down!” Ziggler signed the contract and handed the folder back to Angle. Angle looked resigned. Then Seth’s music played. NO WAY! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Out came Seth.
He said he’s not usually late and he apologized. “I’m really sorry you guys had to sit through that Dolph Ziggler therapy session,” he said. Seth said he’s been there for a little while, but he didn’t want to come out there until Ziggler officially signed the contract. He said he was worried Ziggler would change his mind when he heard what he had to say. He said he was dealing with some travel issues, but they weren’t his travel issues. Fans popped, figuring out this was a Dean Ambrose reference. Seth said the line in the contract about him having someone in his corner was put in there for a reason. He said he wanted to have his own lunatic in his corner. Big cheers. Out came Dean Ambrose. “Oh my!” shouted Cole. “Look who’s here.”
Dean came out, with shorter hair and a beard and a muscle shirt showing off his increased muscle definition. He and Seth charged into the ring. Cole said after nine months, Dean is back. He threw Ziggler out of the ring and then went after McIntyre with a Dirty Deeds. He played to the crowd who cheered. “Oh how the complexion of Summerslam has changed,” said Cole.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m not sure about Dean’s new look, but the way that played out throughout the show with the Ambrose payoff was fun and well-done. Seth was especially good in delivering the news. Ziggler once again delivered a long-winded yelling promo that should be shown in promo class as an example of what not to do ever. And I get the sense he is very happy with himself after promos like that.)
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- Exclusive podcasts every day only for VIP members – well over 100 per month
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- Special sections dedicated to articles/podcasts on specific themes and historical events
- Roundtable Podcasts available Sunday nights after every WWE PPV w/Wade Keller & Bruce Mitchell & Todd Martin
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I didn’t think this was a good show. Most of it was boring.