The Ringer Wrestling Show

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When is the last time you tapped out like John Cena (1:05)? David is joined by Ben and Brian and they kick off the show to discuss wrestling after Cena. Then they get open the mailbag and look at your responses for some end-of-year awards, which include best hair, best entrance, most not-for-me angle, best pivot, and more (25:01).Then, they welcome the man who brought so many tears to adults and children when he retired Cena: the Ring General, Gunther (1:37:40). He discusses the following: His trolling posts on social media after his win (1:38:30) The tension backstage the before Saturday Night’s Main Event (1:4916) How he is loving the boos (1:52:00) His interaction with AJ Styles backstage (1:54:23) Read David’s piece on The Ringer reflecting on John Cena’s career.Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X.Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide, Ben Cruz and Brian H. WatersGuest: GuntherProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you were John Cena, who would you have wanted to put over in your last match? David and Kaz spend today’s show diving into every angle of John Cena’s retirement at Saturday Night’s Main Event this past weekend. They give their initial reactions to Cena tapping out to Gunther and the fan response to one of the biggest stars in wrestling history calling it a career. Plus, they discuss the following: Gunther as Cena’s final opponent (12:20) Who from NXT gained the most from SNME (34:31)? Gunther’s best WrestleMania opponent (43:56) How SNME affects John Cena’s GOAT status (58:35) Whether Saturday was Triple Hs "Mr. McMahon” moment (1:12:39) Be sure to check out our videos on⁠ BlueSky⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠,⁠ Instagram Threads⁠, and⁠ X⁠. Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the eve of John Cena’s last match, David, Kaz, and Brian discuss his legacy and the hype meter for his final match with Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event (5:18) Then they discuss the following: Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi (39:15) Bayley vs. Sol Ruca (48:00) World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Je'Von Evans & Leon Slater (52:20) Who is the Masked Man in WWE (56:12)? Kyle Fletcher vs. SpeedBall Mike Bailey (1:03:20) LA Knight gets destroyed on 'Raw' (1:13:34) Then, they welcome NXT Champion Oba Femi ahead of his match with Cody Rhodes and he discusses the following: Preparing to serve Cody Rhodes a dish of dominance (1:25:10) Lessons he has learned from John Cena (1:30:12) How he is enjoying his run on top of NXT (1:40:30) Read David’s piece on the ringer dot com reflecting on John Cena’s career. Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide and Brian H. Waters Guest: Oba Femi Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who is your favorite “old guy” wrestler (0:41)?David and Kaz kick off the show recapping NXT Deadline and comparing the current NXT men’s roster to the 2003 NBA draft (5:06). They also discuss the following: The Men’s and Women’s Iron Survivor Match (14:00) Gunther wins the Last Time Is Now tournament and will face John Cena (22:53) Breaking news regarding the Rock (25:15) Expected cameos for John Cena’s last match (31:15) Red Velvet defeats Mercedes Moné for the Ring of Honor Women’s TV Title (55:23) David proposes a new NXT championship title (58:10) Who is John Cena’s best rivalry (1:02:00)? Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X.Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem FamuyideProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who would be the absolute worst musical act to feature in a pro-wrestling-match soundtrack? David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing the big news that is the Netflix–Warner Brothers deal and how they think this will affect AEW and WWE, before getting into some wild speculation (5:00). Plus, they discuss the following: TNA’s new television deal with AMC (24:19) Things that actually happened on wrestling programs this week (42:46) CM Punk’s beloved dog Larry passing away (50:38) Who'll win the ‘Last Time Is Now’ tournament (57:30) The women’s tag team divisions in both AEW and WWE (1:04:15) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky⁠, TikTok⁠, Instagram Threads⁠, and⁠ X⁠. Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide Producer: Bruce Baldwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If David, Kaz, Ben, and Brian were in a WarGames match, in what order would they go into the match (0:45)? The guys kick off the show by discussing the current state of Survivor Series and whether or not WarGames is still necessary (2:51). Plus they discuss the following: Could the Iron Survivor Challenge be a part of Survivor Series (21:45)? The WrestleMania main events set up at Survivor Series (26:00). Is Dominik Mysterio the fourth-biggest male superstar (34:45)? The Iyo Sky trash can (59:09) Who was the mystery man at the end of Survivor Series (1:07:50)? Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide, Ben Cruz, and Brian H. Waters Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Make up Bret Hart’s next controversial claim.David and Kaz kick off the week by recapping AEW Full Gear, where Samoa Joe regained the AEW World Championship from Adam “Hangman” Page (7:25).Later, they preview WWE ‘Raw,’ where the Time Is Now Tournament continues with Solo Sikoa vs. Penta and Carmelo Hayes vs. Gunther (1:03:40). Plus, they discuss the hype levels for WarGames vs. John Cena’s retirement match (1:08:19).Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X.Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem FamuyideProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If Kaz was in a wrestling match and refusing to tap out, when is it appropriate for David to throw in the towel? David and Kaz preview AEW Full Gear and discuss which wrestlers in each match have the most potential upside (3:09). The talk all 13 matches, including: Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly (15:56) Sisters of Sin vs. Babes of Wrath vs. Timeless Love Bombs vs. Marina Shafir and Megan Bayne  (20:52) Darby Allin vs. PAC (27:52) Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe (30:46)  Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express vs. The Young Bucks and Josh Alexander – Million-Dollar Trios Match (32:44) Kris Statlander vs. Mercedes Mone (46:46) Later, David and Brian discuss NXT Gold Rush, where Jacy Jayne regained her NXT Women’s Championship (52:27). Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide and Brian H. Waters Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If the babyface Survivor Series team were the Avengers, which Avenger would Jimmy Uso be (0:45)? David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing whose T-shirt they'd get first, Dolph Ziggler's, Matt Cardona's … or Cam Skattebo's (3:40). Then they discuss the first round of the tournament that will determines who faces John Cena in his final match (6:00). They also discuss the following: Je’Von Evans’s performance vs. Gunther (12:02) Maxxine Dupri wins the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (14:56) AJ Lee and Becky Lynch join the women’s WarGames match (18:20) Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar join the men’s WarGames match (22:32) The most expensive wrestling merch (41:29) Later, David and Brian welcome the AEW Women’s World Champion, Kris Statlander, ahead of her title defense against Mercedes Moné at AEW Full Gear (50:41)She discusses the following: Her mental headspace after two ACL injuries (52:19) Creating the alien gimmick (58:22) Her in-ring chemistry with Mercedes Moné (68:39) Falling onto the bed of nails at AEW Blood and Guts (76:20) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker, Kazeem Famuyide, and Brian H. Waters Guest: Kris Statlander Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you were in a real fight, what weapon from the Blood & Guts match would you choose (0:45)? David and Kaz kick off the show by recapping AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts (4:22). They also go through their MVPs from Wednesday night (22:55). Then they discuss NXT and Oba Femi's return (31:00). Later, they welcome WWE Superstar Je’Von Evans ahead of his match with Gunther on WWE 'Raw’ at Madison Square Garden (46:57). He also discusses the following: Wrestling Randy Orton and the advice he received (51:27) His relationship with Shawn Michaels (57:46) Being able to be his authentic self (1:01:16) Preparing for Gunther (1:07:20) Why wrestling in North Carolina is underrated (1:12:21) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X. Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide Guest: Je’Von Evans Producer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices