The Ringer Wrestling Show

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is your emotional state after John Cena’s heel turn (0:36)? David and Kaz have made you wait long enough, so they fire up the mics to react to Cena turning heel at WWE Elimination Chamber (4:37). Plus they discuss the Rock’s Final Boss character benefitting him beyond the box office (24:51).Later, they discuss Jade’s return and beatdown on Naomi, Bianca Belair winning the Elimination Chamber (56:27), whether Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are the rivalry of the decade (1:03:30), and whether Cena’s heel turn is more impactful than Hulk Hogan’s (1:07:41).Read David’s piece on The Ringer dot com, in which he details John Cena’s long-awaited heel turn.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: Would you rather take a conchairto from Cope or be in a death match with Swerve (0:37)? David and Kaz preview this Saturday’s Elimination Chamber match, first discussing who the Rock’s champion could be if Cody Rhodes declines (6:10). Then they predict the winners for the following matches: The men’s Elimination Chamber match (53:56) The women’s Elimination Chamber match (56:49) Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae (1:08:50) Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (1:10:46) Later, they welcome Damaris Lewis, who stars in 'Queen of the Ring.' She discusses portraying Babs Wingo, her friendship with Naomi, and more (1:18:32).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

Ben, Khal, and Brian kick off the show by discussing the viral YEET wedding introduction (3:16). Then, they are joined by David to discuss the following from 'Raw': Seth Rollins confronts Cody Rhodes about the Rock’s offer (8:22) Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez win the women’s tag team titles (22:16) Lyra Valkyria defeats Dakota Kai to retain her women’s intercontinental title (32:02) Then, in a rapid-fire session, Ben challenges the guys to book random names from 'Raw' for WrestleMania (41:03).In Nostalgia Freakz, they revisit Shane McMahon’s return in 2016 and the epic pop he received for it (48:15).Finally, in They Said What?!, they react to a question from you, the people, regarding the heat Xavier Woods can get by bringing back the curly boots and who has the bigger ceiling as heels: the New Day or the Street Profits (63:45).For an opportunity to have your hot take featured on They Said What?!, leave a voicemail at (202) 417-8160, or drop your Am I the Heel? situations at ringerwrestlingshowworldwide@gmail.com.Be sure to check out our videos on the Ringer TikTok account @RingerWrestling, Instagram Threads, and X.Don’t forget to check out the 'Worldwide' page on the Ringer Dot Com!Hosts: Ben Cruz, Khal Davenport, and Brian H. WatersGuest: David ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If you could go back and let any pro wrestler hold your newborn baby, who would it be (0:40)?This week, David welcomes the 'Worldwide' crew, Ben, Khal, and Brian, to talk about a couple of head-scratching moments in wrestling. The Rock wants Cody Rhodes to be his corporate champion (3:40) Thunder Rosa’s weird usage of the chair on AEW Dynamite (45:30) A Cope and Moxley world title match is loading for AEW Revolution (1:00:57) Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X.Host: David ShoemakerGuests: Ben Cruz, Khal Davenport, and Brian H. WatersProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Khal, and Brian kick off the show by discussing WrestleMania 41, which is exactly 60 days away, and their current excitement levels (2:56). Then, they are joined by David to get into Highspot Headlines: Ricky Starks becomes Ricky Saints and signs a NXT contract (10:40) Michael Cole says that WWE is “not professional wrestling anymore” (35:34) Then, in Nostalgia Freakz, they hop in the time machine to No Way Out 2002 for the nWo’s WWE debut (48:06).Finally, in They Said What?!, they react to a question from you, the people, regarding whether or not John Cena will finish his career with a 17th WWE title win (67:07).For an opportunity to have your hot take featured on They Said What?!, leave a voicemail at (202) 417-8160 or drop your ‘Am I the Heel?’ situations at ringerwrestlingshowworldwide@gmail.com.Be sure to check out our videos on the Ringer TikTok account @RingerWrestling, Instagram Threads, and X.Don’t forget to check out the Worldwide page on the Ringer Dot Com!Hosts: Ben Cruz, Khal Davenport, and Brian H. WatersGuest: David ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: With the minimum WWE salary being around $300,000, what would you do in pro wrestling for that salary (0:37)? David and Kaz kick off the show discussing the WWE equivalent of Mac McClung three-peating in the Slam Dunk Contest (5:19). Then, they discuss the winners and losers of the weekend including: Mercedes Moné (12:30) Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher (21:00) Toni Storm (31:49) Roxanne Perez (37:40) Bianca Belair and Naomi (41:29) Adam Copeland and Jon Moxley (45:30) Finn Bálor (54:26) The build to WrestleMania 41 (63:30) 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: Which wrestler did you not like as a kid, but you would wear their merch today (0:35)? David and Kaz close the week with a stacked show, discussing the following: Ricky Starks shows up on NXT (10:53) Who has the biggest upside in WWE between Starks, Miro, and Aleister Black (20:11) AEW Grand Slam preview (33:50) NXT Vengeance Day preview (59:38) They close the show with love to Chris Bey, who posted an inspirational video to celebrate his 29th birthday (1:08:45).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

Ben, Khal, and Brian kick off the show by talking through what the pro wrestling feud equivalent  of the Kendrick Lamar–Drake beef is (4:33). Then they are joined by David to recap the following from 'Raw': CM Punk doesn't know Logan Paul’s music (12:46) Jey Uso picks Gunther as his WrestleMania opponent (14:56) Who will be the final participants in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match? (24:26) Bron Breakker wears a cowboy hat while confronting AJ Styles (35:00) Then, in Nostalgia Freakz, they revisit the night Shawn Michaels “lost his smile” (39:38) before reacting to a They Said What?! question from you, the people, on which wrestlers should perform their entrance music as they enter the ring (51:12).They close the show by discussing why Ricky Starks, Malakai Black, and Miro are parting ways with AEW and what their paths to WWE could look like (59:08).For an opportunity to have your hot take featured on They Said What?!, leave a voicemail at (202) 417-8160, or drop your Am I the Heel? situations at ringerwrestlingshowworldwide@gmail.com.Check out Khal’s piece on ringer dot com where he discusses Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show http://performance.Be sure to check out our videos on the Ringer TikTok account @RingerWrestling, Instagram Threads, and X.And don’t forget to check out the 'Worldwide' page on the Ringer Dot Com!Hosts: Ben Cruz, Khal Davenport, and Brian H. WatersGuest: David ShoemakerProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

COLD OPEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK: WWE trademarked a bunch of names. Which one of these is most likely to headline a WrestleMania (0:45)?David and Kaz kick off the show by discussing the Super Bowl and the squash-match equivalent to the beatdown the Eagles put on the Chiefs (03:30). Then they discuss the WWE Superstars who were released over the weekend and where they will fit (16:55). Later they talk about how this WrestleMania does not have a concrete ending the way last year’s did (27:29). Then they close the show with some more ‘Wrestle-Maybias’ (53:27).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

David and Kaz kick off the show by recapping AEW Dynamite, starting with how to improve Kenny Omega’s threads (5:05). Then they discuss Dustin Rhodes going face-to-face with MJF (21:48).Later, they get into WrestleMania "maybes," where they discuss matches they believe will happen at the Showcase of the Immortals in Las Vegas (33:30). Then Khal tags in to answer a few mailbag questions from X (1:04:53).Be sure to check out our videos on BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram Threads, and X.Hosts: David Shoemaker and Kazeem FamuyideGuest: Khal DavenportProducer: Brian H. Waters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices