WrestleMania Is Losing Its Magic

WrestleMania is supposed to feel unreal. So why are so many fans walking away saying it felt flat, crowded with ads, and stretched too thin? We dig into the uncomfortable gap between WWE’s record-setting business results and the parts of the product that make wrestling feel special in the first place. From ticket revenue to presentation, we talk honestly about what changes when the loudest priority becomes “make more money,” even if fewer people are in the building.

We also get into Brock Lesnar retirement chatter and why that moment hit differently, even for two guys who’ve watched a lot of “retirements” come and go. Then we pivot to the bigger question behind the headlines: what does it mean when TKO publicly signals it has final say over WWE creative control? We break down why you still need experienced wrestling people guiding storytelling, pacing, and the little details that turn a stadium show into a true WrestleMania spectacle.

And then Teddy drops a huge announcement for independent wrestling fans: JBL agrees to wrestle at SICW Fan Fest in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Teddy promises it won’t be an ordinary match. We keep the vibe interactive with listener questions, fan etiquette (when to ask for that photo and when to back off), referee respect, and a couple of wild road stories including RVD and the infamous gummy mistake.

If you’ve got opinions on two-night WrestleMania, WWE commercials, or who’s really steering the ship, you’ll have plenty to argue with us about. Subscribe for weekly shows, share this with a wrestling friend, and leave a review with your biggest WrestleMania hot take.

Transcript

Late Start And Road Stories

SPEAKER_03 1:48

And welcome to another Wednesday night, which of course means it is time for wrestling's road trip after hours, maybe just a couple of minutes late. And I'm sure Vince over your shoulder is uh probably in your ear, Teddy, for being a little bit late, right? Oh, he'd be cussing. Teddy is never late. Never late. And I mean, he called me right as we were supposed to start. You know, he had an issue with the microphone, but it's all fixed now. And look, I wouldn't I wouldn't blame him. This past weekend was a long, tiring weekend. How was it for you at uh WrestleCon, Teddy?

SPEAKER_04 2:22

Uh yeah, man. Everything was great, man. I had a great time. Yeah, I'm glad I was out there. I went out Thursday and uh came back home uh Sunday night. So it was it was it was great, man. I had a great time.

SPEAKER_03 2:32

Yeah, I had to go I'd love being up there, but the only problem I had was that I had to travel so much uh during those days uh that I just got back in last night uh from this weekend because we had several cities that we had to hit uh before we could come back home and uh in the in their eyes are like six hours long between places. Oh, oh man, yeah, man. I any any of these guys that tell you they don't like to travel, I can fully understand what they're talking about because that's hell. That's also go ahead. I was gonna say I don't miss not one day of that. No, I bet not. Look here, there is something else that uh I know happened over the weekend with you. Uh, I hear that you met a pretty classy lady.

SPEAKER_04 3:14

Yes, I did. Uh yeah, yeah, there you go, right there. There you go. I did meet her, man. Man, what a nice, what a nice lady.

SPEAKER_03 3:24

Yeah, you know, I she had uh posted that picture and I was like, let me snatch that real fast because I wanted to put it on the show. Uh, because I've never met her. She's been a part of this show since the beginning. Ever since we I can remember she has been on this show with us. And uh, if she's not here, it kind of makes me worried, you know, is she okay? Where is she? You know, she's one of those types. Yeah. So when I got that picture, it was nice to put a face with the uh person that we always chat with. Uh, so you know, that's cool. Anytime that we're out and we get a chance to do that, and you watch this show or part of the show, please take a picture and then shoot it to us so we can share like this. Because there's a lot of people in the chat room right now. You've never met any of these guys. I'm talking to the people who are with us right now. You haven't met most of these people that we talk to every week. So it'd be kind of cool to see who the family is we have here each and every week because this is a growing family, and uh it's cool to see how much involvement that's uh y'all have put into the show with Teddy and I.

SPEAKER_04 4:14

And pretty classy lady is certainly part of our uh road trip up to ours nation here that she's part of that.

Brock Lesnar Match And Retirement Talk

SPEAKER_03 4:21

She absolutely is. She she's been fantastic and just so many of them. I I one thing about WrestleMania I I'll get into in just a minute, but Teddy, your thoughts uh did you get to see any of the WrestleMania show? Because you know, when it's travel time, it's really hard to see much of it at all.

SPEAKER_04 4:34

Uh well, like I said, I was getting in and out of there. I think I seen some of it in the airport. Uh I seen the uh Brock Lesnar and uh Femart. I saw that match. I did that was yeah, I think that was the only one I had a chance to see.

SPEAKER_03 4:48

Your thoughts on that? Uh did you get to see enough of it to be able to make Yeah, I yeah, I I really did.

SPEAKER_04 4:53

I thought that uh it was it was it was it was great. Brock, uh, you know, he did business, you know, and that's the way things should be. You know what I mean? And you know, and at the end, uh the way that they did it, you know, for him, you know, I I guess he's retiring. I'm not sure about that, you know, because you see so many guys retire and go away and next thing you know, here they are again. So uh, but anyway, I think that the way Brock, you know, did it, uh it was it was outstanding. I, you know, everything was great.

SPEAKER_03 5:21

Yeah, you know, and if that is something that they're that you know they're working uh or or or they're playing with our heads a little bit with Brock's retirement, uh he played it off so well, Teddy. I'm like you. I I believe that that's real. I think that what we saw was and maybe it wasn't a scripted moment for the show, maybe it was something he decided right in that moment to go, you know what, I I'm done, uh, and put his stuff in there. I don't know, but I I would suggest that, like you, I I fully believe that he knows.

SPEAKER_04 5:48

I think they knew. I don't think you just go in business for yourself out there, you know what I mean? So, and that's if he'd have done that, that's what he would have done. So uh I I I think they knew.

unknown 5:58

Yep.

TKO Power And Creative Control

SPEAKER_03 5:59

You know, you talk about going into the business uh for themselves and business of wrestling. WrestleMania, um they didn't sell as many tickets as they normally sell. They sold, I think it's 40,000 fewer tickets, something like that. Uh but whatever the amount was, uh, still they made more than they made last year or somewhere in the area, the same thing as last year, just selling fewer seats. So it's all come down to money, and now I'm seeing a lot of friction where uh now TKO is saying that they control the creative in WWE now, not Triple H, not anybody else. The creative comes uh and his final decisions are made by TKO. Teddy, when you make a comment like that in public, and this is one of the top officials in TKO, when you make a comment like that, what does that do to people like Triple H in the back? Does that pretty much neuter him in the back when it comes to his position and working with people?

SPEAKER_04 6:56

Well, I don't really know. I think what it does do, you know what I mean, is put, you know, let everybody know, you know, who's in charge, you know, you know, who's doing what? Um I I just I like I said, with with them, TKO, you know, getting involved with wrestling. This is their first time, you know, involved with this, you know. I just can't see uh some of them without Triple H's help to go to to uh make creative work, you know what I mean? You gotta have somebody that knows this business to be in creative.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

But you would think, Teddy, even the uh I've heard a lot of people talk about WrestleMania from the weekend. I've always seen bits and pieces of WrestleMania. Uh so I excuse me, I have not seen the entire two days, and uh and I'll get into that in just a second. But when you see people with WrestleMania right now, and the way TK TKO has handled WWE over the last year, let's say, it's all been about the money. Even the stage at WrestleMania wasn't that impressive. It looked like an average stage for any average show. There was nothing spectacular about WrestleMania. When back in the day, um I'm you know, people might hear that, but Vince McMahon would never have had a WrestleMania that felt that freaking flat. And the stage looked flat, it looked like just an everyday smack down, you know, not Nitro with all show.

SPEAKER_04 8:20

What did I just say? That you can't have people that don't know anything about our business being in creative. If that's what they created for a stage or for the big grand entrance, you know what I mean? That that that just that didn't get it.

SPEAKER_03 8:34

I the last time I saw one of those stages, I think this was in New York, maybe, or I'm trying to remember. One of the stages they had was absolutely huge. The almost the entire end of the stadium was a stage. It was huge, and these steps they came way down. It felt very like uh a Hollywood theme. Maybe maybe it was in LA. Uh, but it just that kind of stage is what you expect to see at WrestleMania. You expect to see, you know, a lot of things you don't see at other shows. That didn't happen this weekend, and a lot of people have been complaining about it. And I'm still gonna go back to the fact, Teddy, that they're one of the reasons why WrestleMania is no longer as interesting to a lot of people and it's not as hot of a show as it used to be. You're trying to do too much in two days. Take the best of the best, represent them in one night like they used to do. Give us one night of WrestleMania and make us want more. Not don't make it get to the point where you get so tired of all the leftovers that are still sitting on the table. And that's what I feel like we get in WrestleMania now. It's not every match is gonna be spectacular because they're just trying to fill up two days of wrestling. Do you think it's better to go to one day, Teddy?

Why WrestleMania Looked Too Plain

SPEAKER_04 9:43

Well, I would have certainly kept it at one day, you know what I mean? But like I said, you know, time changes, Mac, and we just have to understand, you know, as the time changes, marketing changes, every a whole lot of stuff changes. So, you know, you have to figure out well, if there's an extra day here, if you know, if you're the businessman of this, if here's an extra day here, let me try this. Let's see if I can make money with two days of WrestleMania. Let's try it. If it works, it works. If it don't, we don't do it no more. So that's that's what that's what I think they did. They gamble with it. So when Vince did it at first, it did real good. So hey, let's let's roll with it.

SPEAKER_03 10:18

And I think that maybe Vince had better success with it because the story, there were more storylines that were interesting, and that's where WWE is having a hard time. You don't have a lot of storylines that fans are attached to. And you're giving us two days of wrestling with only maybe a handful of matches people really care about, and the rest of it's filler. And I don't mean that to sound bad to the wrestlers in the ring. I'm just saying that the quality and the story of the matches into WrestleMania needed to be much more than what we got. Well, it's not their fault, it's the fault of the creative.

SPEAKER_04 10:49

It is what it is, it is what it is. Yeah, man.

SPEAKER_03 10:51

Uh Martin's daddy is in the room. Hey, man, good to see you in here saying Mac and Teddy. Holla, players. Holla back at you, player. All right, what day do you think today is, Teddy? Uh I don't know what day today is. It's National Earth Day. And of course, you know, like the Earth Day. Yeah, you gotta be green today. Let's see, Mike uh Harold. There you go, Dave Crome, Mike Harold. I don't know what that means, but there you go. Uh Dave is also saying, I like when you say. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:25

Oh, don't don't put don't don't put him over with that. Jesus, that is the worst noise I've ever heard in my life. Don't tell him that. See, there he goes.

SPEAKER_03 11:34

Sounds like locusts. Uh let's see. Uh, we have pretty classy saying, uh, hey Matt, did you see yeah? You must come in a little bit later. I'm bringing you up late. Uh, but she's uh yeah, we posted that picture, as a matter of fact. Pretty classy lady, yeah, man. And also, uh, Teddy, you walk so fast is one of the things she's actually saying. What were you running away from her, Teddy? What were you doing? I don't know. I was just moving around, man. He's trying to escape. He's he's got his running shoes on.

SPEAKER_04 12:00

I'm getting away, you know, and that and she's so right about that, you know, because Denise gets on me all the time about that, you know, by walking fast. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:09

You know, Teddy, my wife does the same thing. If we go shopping, she's one of the slower walkers, and I walked real fast. Same way when it comes to eating, she takes her time eating. I believe in eating my food while it's hot and enjoying my food. I'm not gonna sit there all night long just picking at it. Uh, so yeah, my wife's the same way. She says, Slow down, I can't keep up with you. Let's see. We also have uh Marks in the room saying, Hey Mac, didn't get to see you in Vegas. I saw Teddy at WrestleCon. Yeah, I never got a chance to get over to WrestleCon. I I did contact Teddy uh the first day I was there, and from that point forward, I was slam ass busy. Uh and it just didn't stop. So uh that's why I didn't even get to see Teddy. Um see uh lower ticket prices, uh something that Dave is also saying, and that will help when it comes to uh I think how fans perceive wrestling through WWE. I I think fans feel like they're being taken advantage of. They're not stupid, you know. They know when people are trying to, you know, take every penny out of their pocket, and uh, and that's the way it feels with a lot of fans when it comes to WWE. A wrestling historian Teddy is saying, Mr. Long, what was your worst experience getting mobbed by fans away from the marina, from the arena?

One Night Versus Two Nights Debate

SPEAKER_04 13:21

Uh I don't know. I I would, you know, me and uh a good friend of mine, Jack Perizi, we were talking today about one time I was in London, England, and Nick Patrick uh will tell you this. He was right there with me. Uh we were in a mall or somewhere. I don't know where we were going, but anyway, the some of the fans recognized me and then boy, here comes a mob of Mac. I mean, it's about 25 or 30 of them. They're running. Now I gotta take off chasing. So Nick is running with me. You know, we're trying to get back to the hotel. But uh, yeah, they chased me. And we were talking about that today. That's a that's a true story.

SPEAKER_03 13:57

Yeah, you know, because over the weekend there were so many incidents of the wrestlers and people getting in their personal space. Look, if anybody is watching this and you're not sure if you should be taking a picture at the time that you're, you know, you're, I want to get a picture with them. I'm gonna go over there and say something to them. If you get this inkling that you shouldn't, you probably should listen to that inkling because most of them they'll be nice, but if they're with their family, they really rather not be bothered. And you got to respect that. I mean, because they're in the public all the time. And if they're with somebody or trying to do a private moment with someone, leave them the hell alone. Uh, let them enjoy that moment or do that moment. Go ahead, Teddy.

SPEAKER_04 14:30

Also, though, I wanted to mention this too. Uh, I had the opportunity to speak earlier today with uh promoter Herb Simmons with uh S-I-C-W. Oh, oh, oh not yet, not yet.

Commercial Overload And Fan Frustration

SPEAKER_03 14:43

Not yet. Okay, not yet. Yeah. Just a minute though. Yeah, there is a big announcement coming up. I trust me, it's a big announcement Teddy's got for us. But uh, promise I'd hold off on that until uh about another three, four minutes, and then I would uh bring that up on the show. Okay. So yeah, Teddy does have a big announcement though. I guess I got the wind of that just today, Teddy. Uh Money Mac saying, hello, all. Hey, it's always good to see you in here, Money Mac. Yeah, Money Mac, you are the money man. And uh Jason also in the room saying, Good evening, gentlemen. Uh also here, uh Money Mac popping back in the room, also saying, I do think just having a WrestleMania on one night is better. WWE has to do a better job of pacing out their matches and making them a bit longer. Yeah, Teddy, did you see the uh the graphics? Look, I'm only gonna these are estimated numbers, but there were graphics that showed the amount of commercial links uh during WrestleMania versus match times and entrances. No, the lowest time of screen time were the matches. Commercials and entrances were longer than the matches themselves at WrestleMania, the entire program. Teddy, I thought I thought WrestleMania was a in the old days, you didn't even see a freaking commercial. You may have got a promo from WWE, but you weren't watching watching these damn commercials.

SPEAKER_04 16:06

You know what I'm saying? Well, those commercials are the people that paid the money, yeah.

Fan Boundaries And Getting Mobbed

SPEAKER_03 16:11

But if you're we so is the viewer, though, because you have to buy that little app from ESPN, then buy through the Disney app, whatever that other crap is you gotta do. You gotta pay extra money for something that should be commercial free. I get the promos, I get the merch sales for wrestling, that should be a part of it. But outside advertising should not be a part of an event like WrestleMania. I'm just I just don't believe in that. I think WrestleMania, like I said, it's it's no longer the same big spectacular event that it used to be. It has become a house show, a glorified house show. And Vince McMahon, I can't imagine, would ever have that happen when it came to WrestleMania. That was his baby. Um, let's see. Uh we also have hey, y'all are really in here tonight. Thank you very much. If you want to be a part of the show, just drop us a uh a comment in the comment section. We'll throw it up on the screen, and Teddy and I will give the best answer we can. Bradley's saying, hey, brother, this uh Dan Bob from the House of Grim Podcast. Love you guys. It's good to see you, uh, Dan Bob. And uh thank you for uh the kind comments, my friend. Thank you. Uh Jason Simmons is also saying, Hope you guys are doing well. Can't the way uh can't wait to see you in May. And of course, he's talking about S-I-C-W. Uh it'll be a big event May 8th, May 9th. That's in Fairview Heights, Illinois. There's gonna be a lot going on as Teddy mentioned he does have a special announcement about what's gonna happen that weekend. And uh before we do that, first this and Teddy's big announcement next. You want to know?

SPEAKER_02 17:44

Well, here it comes. Fan fest for turning it up. Fair few eyes for shaking the floor to highs to be begging for more.

SPEAKER_03 20:17

A fellow by the name of Big Nasty, Glenn Williams, uh, who was our guest uh just recently here on the show, uh, and he was very polite. That's one thing I got out. I was like, this guy was really polite. Remember, Teddy? He was he was kind of a polite guy. But when he's away from talking to us face to face through these cameras or in person, he's he he can be someone different. And we've been warned about how bad and different he could be. I've been warning saying, Don't poke the damn bear, quit poking the bear. And Teddy, you've got a big announcement.

SPEAKER_04 20:49

Well, uh, here's the thing. Uh, I I I have no like it's kind of like what you just said. You know, the guy was talking to me and you, just as nice as he could be, but when he's away, you know, he's like the devil. So uh his obsession is with JBL. He wants to have a match with JBL. Well, JBL is uh well, I would say retired. You know, John's just doing his podcast and coming and making, you know, a lot of appearances. So since he's so obsessed with JBL, then uh this past weekend in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to get a chance to run over to John and and run and see and say hello to them. And I talked to John about it, and I told him about this guy, uh Ben Williams, Vic Nassi, and how he's obsessed and wants a match with JBL and he'll do this and that. So uh John told me, he said, Well, Teddy, you know, he said, if you think I ought to do it, you know, he said, I'll do it. I said, Well, John, you know, you what do you got to lose? So uh John did tell me, uh JBL told me that he will wrestle that night in uh at SICW, May 8th at night at the at the uh Big Fan Fest there. But the other thing, but the other thing I want Ben Williams to know, it just ain't gonna be no ordinary man. Match. You know, this match is going to mean something. And I'm not going to tell him what type of match it is until the night of the event. So that's uh another thing I'll have in store for him.

SPEAKER_03 22:11

So if you want to find out what that special match is going to be for a very special night of probably somebody who's going to have a very special ass kicking coming his way, uh, you got to have tickets. And you can only do that by going to SICW.org is May 8th, May 9th, Fairview Heights, Illinois. It's going to be an incredible show, and we hope you'll be there with us. Teddy and Long and I have been there for the last three, four, I don't know how many years now.

SPEAKER_04 22:34

And I want to say this too. I want to say this. Let's uh say a big shout out to Herb Simmons, the promoter over there. You know, here's a guy, you know, old school. Uh, you know, he knows what the fans want, and that's what he's bringing them. That's what he's giving them, exactly what they want. And I just want to say thank you, Herb, for making SICW what it is today, and you're doing a hell of a job. And I'm just happy to be associated with it.

SPEAKER_03 22:56

Yeah, and Teddy and I, and this is no shit when Teddy and I, excuse me, when this is what Teddy and I will say, even off camera. Uh, there are very few promoters you can really trust uh about what they say and what will happen. Herb is one of those guys, if he tells you something, it's solid, it's solid. And he's been very good to us over the years. And uh seeing him go into the Hall of Fame this year is going to be extra special because uh he believes, I mean, he belongs to be in that hall of fame. Uh let's see. We have uh let me see if I can see it a different way. Scout, can you read that, Teddy? Scout the Brendell Black Nose 420.

SPEAKER_04 23:32

Uh okay Well, I I only know what the last uh uh numbers are, 420. That's all I know.

SPEAKER_03 23:38

Yeah, I get the 420 part, but the rest of it I'm not sure about. And maybe it's just my age. Uh let's see. Uh he's also saying agreed about one night. Yeah, the WrestleMania one night. I think is I think it'd be a lot easier on a lot of people. Uh also, um, he's saying holla holla holla. Okay, then holla holla holla. Pee-wee is in the room, Pee-wee. Uh, what up, Mac? What up, Teddy?

SPEAKER_04 24:05

What up with you, Pee-wee?

SPEAKER_03 24:07

Also, we have Scout saying, uh, did Teddy like his theme music in WWE?

SPEAKER_04 24:14

Yeah, well, nothing wrong with it. Vince uh well, yeah, he he the Vince did do that. He he uh selected that music. That was what he wanted me to have. Because it had a little something in there about the back the back milleton and something stuff, but you know what I mean? Yeah, Vince, he he he he he was the one who picked that music.

SPEAKER_03 24:32

Was there uh what the different songs did you have, Teddy? I'm trying to think. Was it because to me that's the only one I can remember? That's the only one I had. Okay, I was about to say, yeah, because I couldn't remember, I'm sure you had different ones in WCW, but that wasn't really yours, it was the team you were bringing out, yeah, not yours. No, uh yeah, yeah, because I but I don't remember anything other than that. Uh let's see. Uh, we have a guest suggestion being Jason Sensation. Uh well, if uh Jason makes us aware of him and who he is and wants to be on the show, and uh Teddy feels like he's gonna be a happy guy that day, we'll have him on. Going. I guess he's upset. He's filling in for Eve's, not here right now. Also, we have I don't want to get about to get rid of somebody I don't mean to be getting rid of here. Here we go. Um boom, scout saying one-on-one with the Undertaker. Did you like being a ref? That's another question, Teddy. I was trying to get to bring it here. It's coming up on the screen finally. Uh Mac Hazel Hazel and Dog. Hope I said that right. Did Teddy like being a ref? Did Teddy like what? Being a ref.

SPEAKER_04 25:38

Oh, yeah. Well, nothing wrong with that at all. The referee has got me where I am today. That's how I made it. Yeah, I enjoyed being a ref. I learned a lot too.

Theme Music And Referee Respect

SPEAKER_03 25:48

If you could go back and do one of two things, uh general manager or ref, which would it be? Either one. I don't care. Oh, I'd rather be the general manager. You have more TV time that you that where you're actually your high, you know, your talent could be seen. Because as a referee, a lot of people don't realize there's a lot in a referee and what he's doing in the ring, and it takes a lot of knowledge about where, you know, placement in the ring, all kinds of things. Uh I don't think people uh really realize how hard those guys work.

SPEAKER_04 26:12

Yeah, they they don't really know, you know, they just you know look at it, but the referee plays a big important part in every match.

SPEAKER_03 26:20

Oh, yeah. Uh, we also have pretty classy ladies saying she thinks that Sable should have been Brock's final opponent. Uh, it may be for it's all said and done. Uh, you guys are great in the room tonight. We appreciate that. Uh Brian Hickey's saying, looking forward to seeing you guys in May. And uh, yeah, we uh will be there in May. Looking forward to that as well. Also getting a shout out from Colorado with uh Mac Brian Whitaker in the room, and he is saying Glenn Williams better run. So also here's somebody else saying that uh uh come on, he keeps wanting to lock up on me here, Teddy. I'm sorry. Jason uh is saying that uh that's Glenn's ass, uh, talking about that same thing as well. Uh Dave Crone's saying, How about a bolt rope match with him and uh JBL? That would that's something that wouldn't surprise me, to be honest with you. I could see that happening. Yeah, and Teddy, you got any ideas by the way? Are you are you thinking of something which you think maybe would be really cool for a match, or are you just gonna keep it out of the cloud?

SPEAKER_04 27:16

I'm not gonna I already got it in my head. I'm not gonna even hint on it, nothing. You know, I don't want nobody to get this one, but I've got it in my head already.

SPEAKER_03 27:24

Oh, very good. I'm gonna have to get on the phone with you, Jason. The best general manager, facts, and yeah, I agree with that. Thank you, Jason. Tyler is uh going awesome, and he's talking about again that uh we have a JBL uh finnection coming up to the show that's gonna be a lot of fun in uh Fairview Heights, Illinois. And let's see, man, I'm still trying to get through these teddy. Uh we've got a few more minutes here. Lucky P. Larson speaking as a profession, I'm sorry, a personal friend of Glenn Williams, Mr. Long. Just keep yourself in line at FanFest 4 and remember that you are not the greatest manager around anymore. That would be the back-to-back mid-south manager of the year, lucky P. Larson. You can let him talk to you that way.

SPEAKER_04 28:16

You can let hey, that's all I gotta say.

SPEAKER_03 28:21

All right, let's see. Joe Helms uh also in here saying, I'm calling next on Glenn. Uh, that probably won't be anything left if JBL gets a hold of him. Uh, and also we have Mac uh saying Theodore Long and JCW would be cool. Hey, never say never. You never know what could happen in JCW. That's one of the reasons I love it over there.

SPEAKER_04 28:42

Yeah, you're having a blast. Yes, you are.

SPEAKER_03 28:44

Yeah, man, it's this it's a good time there. I I could tell you some stories from this past weekend that would blow you away, Teddy. It's just uh no, they would not. Yeah, no, they wouldn't. Hey, what did y'all think of Brock Lesnar retiring? And they got two big Deep South shows this weekend. Uh, looking forward to it to be a good birthday present for me, my cuz. My birthday is Sunday. Uh, so that'd be yeah, that'd be great. Uh I didn't know how Nick had a big weekend coming up uh for Deep South shows. Steady? And what did you think about Brett Lesnar retiring?

SPEAKER_04 29:16

You said a while ago, but you I mentioned, you know, at the beginning of the show, we talked about it. And uh, like I said, I thought the way it was done, it was great, you know, no problem or nothing, you know. And you know, like I said, we just have to wait and see because a lot of guys say they retire, and then again, you know, they're right back. So, but uh congratulations to Brock. If he's gonna do that, then maybe he wants to take some time off and enjoy his family.

SPEAKER_03 29:39

Back is saying Rodney Max theme too, being something else that you came out to, but again, that's that's more Rodney Max theme, not Teddy's theme. Uh so Teddy only had really just that one song that you know uh the black metal I can hear it in my head right now. Going to get you down.

SPEAKER_04 29:53

Well, they gave it the the Rodney and then uh Vince just kept it with me. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 29:58

So it originated with Rodney and then it became yours. Yes, I got you. I got you. All right, let's see. Uh-oh. Glenn Williams. I knew you'd see it my way. Thanks for giving me what I want, Teddy.

SPEAKER_04 30:12

Oh, no problem, Glenn. I'm so happy to give you what you want. You just don't know how happy I am and how happy I am going to be.

SPEAKER_03 30:20

Yeah, and everybody who's going to be there, make sure you have your uh your phones ready because this is something you're going to want to capture on that phone and share it on social media everywhere when you see what happens. Real Brian Clark. Hey man, really good to see you in here. Uh, congrats to our friends, Demolition on the Hall of Fame, and great seeing you guys as always. Did you see Demolition this weekend, Teddy?

SPEAKER_04 30:42

Yeah, yes, I did. Did you? Yeah, I stopped by and spoke to both of those guys, man. Well, you know, two great guys. Yeah, I did.

SPEAKER_03 30:48

Uh, we have Sean Styles saying, Let me talk to you, player. Well, go ahead, player. Teddy is the absolute definition of a good hand, and this business needs more, Teddy Long's for sure.

SPEAKER_04 31:02

Uh yeah, well, here's a guy that you know that you don't find two people know the word good hand, you know, and some of the words that we used to use back in the day. So player know.

SPEAKER_03 31:12

Yep, yep. Jason uh is saying, Glenn Williams. I don't know if you know what is coming your way. It's time for change. Sean Vincent, your Canadian hero, can't wait to see you both at Fan Vest 4. Same way, we can't uh that's my next trip. I'm looking forward to it. Get enough rest in, I'll be ready. Jason, we do have a leather strap match we could do. He's made another suggestion there, Teddy.

SPEAKER_04 31:40

I got like I said, I've already got this down, but I ain't gonna hint to it or nothing. This will certainly be a surprise.

SPEAKER_03 31:47

And destiny agrees. She's saying Teddy knows what he's doing, and uh Destiny will see you in May as well. Uh, she's a part of S-I-C-W. Poncho the uh let's see, Poncho the Dingo. Keep up the good work, guys. Poncho, thank you much, my friend. I appreciate that. All right, hey, here you go. I like this idea, uh Teddy. Dave is suggesting maybe shave Gwen's head. Well, like I said, that would put JBL in a situation too, though, because he might have to shave his head, and I'm not sure JBL would be willing to do that.

SPEAKER_04 32:18

Well, like I said, what's gonna happen? JBL is gonna be willing to do this. Glenn Williams need to worry.

Vince McMahon Saudi Bid Rumor

SPEAKER_03 32:26

Yes. All right, let's see. We got a couple more and then we gotta get out of here, guys. Mac Teddy, this Sunday is my birthday. That's Pee-Wee. Well, happy birthday, uh, Pee-wee, and uh Happy birthday to you, player. Yeah, take it take a picture of the cake or something and shoot it to us. We'll throw it up on the screen uh after the fact. Poncho saying, any uh VKM stories, Vincent story, I mean Vince stories, Teddy. Anything you may not have told us before that we'd be surprised about with Vince? No, that's about it. Hey, look, there was something. Let me bring this up too, Teddy. Uh, I've brought this rumor up a few times in the last few episodes, and I saw today uh where WrestleZone Moments uh has posted that reports suggest Vince McMahon is in active talks with Saudi investors about a potential bid to reacquire WWE from TKO group holdings. Now, you and I have talked about this before, and people said no, that wouldn't happen. But when when it comes to money and the way that TKO has operated in the last couple of years was all about making that buck, if Vince can find the investors in the Saudi who are willing to put up money that TKO can't say no to, there is that possibility, Teddy, that we could see Vince McMahon back at WWE, but is more as a uh not a publicly traded company, but a private company.

SPEAKER_04 33:46

Well, we like I said, we'll just have to wait and see what happens. And I think you know, it's I believe it's something's gonna happen with Vince. I think he wants retribution.

SPEAKER_03 33:56

Yeah, and he's that way too. He doesn't like taking a hit any from anyone. Uh Sean Vincent saying, any fun memories of Brock Lesnar?

SPEAKER_04 34:07

Uh no, he's just always been a nice guy. I've known him for a real long time. So he's always been a nice guy to work with, great attitude. That's all I can say.

SPEAKER_03 34:16

Uh, we also have uh, well, see, it's doing it to me again. Hang tight, did he? There we go. And this is Freddie Jack uh Funkhauser saying, Good evening that everyone. Sorry for joining late. Hey, that's all right. You can always go back and uh watch it uh later as soon as we finish up here. Uh, and also have Dave Crohn saying, With the war now, no more Saudi. Uh say yeah, I don't know. Did they have they announced whether they're still going to Saudi Teddy? I'm sorry, but I just don't know. I haven't heard. I I haven't heard either, so you know because I would think with the war and everything that's taking place, I don't know many people who are gonna hop on a plane and go to Saudi right now uh to watch WrestleMania next year. I just don't see a lot of a lot of things will have to change. Herb Simmons is in the room saying good evening.

SPEAKER_04 34:59

Uh good afternoon, Mr. Herb Simmons.

SPEAKER_03 35:02

Poncho saying, nice statue of Vincent Teddy uh looking over the shoulder. Uh again, one of those things that uh just uh trivia, that little head that's behind him, that that cast of fence's head, uh those are a very limited number. They uh it was given to just so many people uh at a recent birthday party. And uh it looks really cool behind you. I like the way that he's looking over your shoulder the entire time we do the show. That cracks me up. Antonio is saying hello to us as well. And uh let's see, okay. Uh pretty classy lady is saying that she's her that they'll make the final decision about that Saudi show in June. Uh so we'll know more then. And Chad Chad. We're gonna have to see what happens. Yeah. Chad Drigger saying, Sending love to both of the uh both you guys. Uh great seeing you both in Vegas. Yeah, man. Uh I that's somebody I did get a chance to see. And uh man, I you know, I love meeting the people who are on the show because without uh you, there is no Teddy, there's no me, there's not this show happening right now. Uh and uh so without your help and you guys doing what you do each and every week, uh look, we enjoy it. Uh this is something Teddy and I get enjoyed.

SPEAKER_04 36:11

I got a chance to meet Chad, man. What a great, what a nice guy, man.

SPEAKER_03 36:14

Yeah, this and and again, if you're at any of these events, let us know because it's very hard. I'll be honest with for me at least, it's very hard for me to talk to somebody on this show, and you come up and you say hey and you start talking to me. I I may not know what your face looks like, so I'm not gonna know who you are. You're gonna have to say, Mac, I'm the guy that does this, or you know, the one that you talk to that does it. If you'll do that, I'll go, Oh, yeah, shit. I know who you are now. Uh, but I don't get to see your face. So it's hard for me to know sometimes who I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_04 36:39

Why don't you just tell the truth? You got memory left.

Bar Stories RVD And The Gummy

SPEAKER_03 36:41

Yeah, I got memory. I go on my memory is really bad at times, especially if if Teddy hands me a gummy. Uh did we ever tell that story, Teddy? I came here if you ever we were in what was that, Texas? I think we were in Dallas that time for WrestleMania, maybe or somewhere. And Teddy he had handed me a gummy. Now, I'm not sure what the hell, you know. I'm I'm thinking, oh, a gummy, okay. I ate the whole damn gummy. I don't know, you know, you're supposed to eat like half of it or something like that. I ate the whole damn gummy, and before it was over with, I was sitting in a chair just staring off into space. Teddy just cracked up the whole time. You eat that thing. Uh let's see. We gotta see. Is there anything else we can do in here, guys? I know you're all in here, and I'm trying to get everybody in, but they're gonna kick us out of here in just a couple minutes. Uh, Brian saying, Hey, Teddy Mac, uh, hope you're having a good evening. Teddy, do you have any good bar stories about Ron Simmons or JBL?

SPEAKER_04 37:34

No, uh, let's see. No, maybe I think one time I think we might have been in the in Detroit, maybe. I don't know, I'm not sure. But anyway, I think Ron and John knew we drinking all of us were drinking. And uh this guy walks up and he comes over with his girlfriend, and they sit down and they start buying drinks, you know, and you know, paying for the drinks. So I guess this guy thought he could outdrink John. So the next thing I know, man, John, this guy passed out, and John took his girlfriend up to his room.

SPEAKER_03 38:08

I can see that. I can see that easily. Uh, let's see. Freddie Jack said you can't wait to see us uh at SICW Fan Fest for also Poncho was asking uh Teddy if he doesn't get shut down because it's it's really acting like it's about to close us out. Is uh on RBD. Any stories about RBD you can tell?

SPEAKER_04 38:28

Uh no, I don't know. I can tell you about RVD, you can't outsmoke him. That's that's one thing for sure. I found that out real easy. And sometimes, you know, he's like a connoisseur too. You know, he can tell you but every strain, every I mean, he'll go right into detail about just exactly what it's made of and what does this and what does that.

SPEAKER_03 38:53

He was he was on the show with us in JCW in Vegas uh this past week. He and his wife both were there, yeah. Yeah, and uh so yeah, and and I tell you, Teddy, he still looks like he's in really good shape. I mean, you know, he he can still go and do things, and it cracks me up too when you hear that he was just a brand new father, you know what I'm saying? Oh wow, yeah. Remember, he did she was pregnant not long. I I can't remember they had a couple of kids, one kid. I don't know. You guys in the room probably know, but we don't have time for you to answer anyhow, so I'm sorry. Uh let's see, Antonio's laughing about the gummy bear story. Yeah, we this is the thing I don't understand about the gummies. Now, this is gonna sound crazy and then we'll get out of here. But you know, if it's like smoking weed, you tend to get a little hungry. So if you've got a bag of gummies in front of you and you can only eat half of one, is the suggestion, not a full one. And if you get the munchies and there's a bag of gummies there, what is the you know, what's the chances, Teddy, that somebody's gonna eat that entire bag of gummies before they're finished because it is food and it's sitting right there.

SPEAKER_04 39:53

Well, I I mean that's just uh that's a real hard question right there. You know what I mean? I guess maybe the higher you get, the more good, the more gummies you eat.

SPEAKER_03 40:05

That's what I'm saying. Yeah, it's it's it's like uh the weed brownies. Remember, you you you have a brownie and it's good, and then all of a sudden you start going, man, I'm hungry. So you get another brownie without realizing, oh yeah, there's weed in there. I forgot. Then you're really messed up.

Sandman Sighting And Closing Plans

SPEAKER_04 40:18

Well, it's really too late then.

SPEAKER_03 40:20

Yep. Uh before we get out of here, guess who showed up? E is in here, and he said, Did y'all see the sandman's last match, Mick Foley's surprise? I did. I got to see that live, as a matter of fact.

SPEAKER_04 40:31

Teddy, did you get to see no, but I did see Sandman at uh Reservoir. Him and Mick Foley both. I thought I got a chance to holler at both of them.

SPEAKER_03 40:39

Yeah, there's there's a lot of folks there uh in uh Vegas. It was good to see a lot of those guys. I can't, I just can't wait till we get to the Fan Fest four in St. Louis in the uh Fairview Heights, Illinois area. Uh, and it's gonna be a blast. There's a lot of guys there. I'm looking forward to seeing Teddy. I know you are as well. Anything coming up for you outside of that, Teddy, you want to talk about?

SPEAKER_04 40:58

No, I'm just uh taking it easy. And uh this weekend I'm gonna go up and uh spend uh some time with Denise at her birthday, so uh I'm just gonna take it easy.

SPEAKER_03 41:09

Well, wait a minute. You're gonna take it easy on her birthday? Yeah. So what are you gonna do about her birthday? You gonna just give her the the the the the gift of your presence?

SPEAKER_04 41:21

Oh, I'm just gonna let her know I'm here and here's this for you. Happy birthday, and I'm going straight on in the bedroom.

SPEAKER_03 41:27

See, see, there you go. You said here. You said here, like you're giving her something. What are you gonna give her for her birthday, Teddy?

SPEAKER_04 41:31

I can't tell you.

SPEAKER_03 41:33

Yo, you can't tell. I don't I don't blame you. I wouldn't own up to it either. That put you on the spot right there because you probably you ain't bought shit. We both know that.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

So we're out of here.

SPEAKER_03 41:43

We'll see you again next week. Same time, same place, Wednesday nights, it's wrestling's road trip after hours. I'm Mac Davis, and that of course is WWE Hall of Famer, Mr. Teddy Long.