Dave Simon and Johnny North discuss SmackDown's premiere on USA Network, RAW's move to Netflix, and the captivating WWE storylines, including the Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes team-up, in the latest episode of Wrestling Uncensored
Dave Simon pointed out, “SmackDown made its USA debut tonight. With its new deal with the USA Network and the end of RAW, it will be doing a two-hour RAW starting sometime in October, and that’ll run until the end of December, at which point it will switch over to Netflix.” This shift signifies a strategic move by WWE to increase viewership and accessibility.
In the 699th episode of Wrestling Uncensored, hosts Dave Simon and Johnny North discuss the recent developments in WWE and AEW. The show covers SmackDown’s premiere on the USA Network, RAW’s upcoming move to Netflix, and potential changes in running time. The hosts also delve into current WWE storylines, including the intriguing team-up of Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes and the upcoming battles in AEW leading up to the highly anticipated AEW Grand Slam 2024.
Watch the replay above or listen to the podcast below.
Poster for SmackDown’s Premiere on USA Network featuring the new SmackDown logo.
WWE SmackDown Moves to USA Network and Netflix
Johnny North commented on the change, saying, “I think they’re trying to make SmackDown a big deal because now it’s on the USA network, so try to make the shows big.” This move will draw more viewers and revitalize the Friday night wrestling scene.
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WWE RAW to Netflix: A New Format
WWE RAW is also seeing changes. Starting in January, the show will air on Netflix with a target two-hour runtime but with the flexibility to extend when necessary. Dave Simon said, “I think a three-hour program for wrestling is too long unless you have, you know, a pay-per-view type of thing.” He emphasized that shifting to a shorter runtime might be more digestible for viewers. Johnny North agreed, adding, “I’m very, very happy about this… it just doesn’t work for three hours every week.” The hosts believe these changes will benefit WWE in the long term by allowing them to focus on quality.
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes in the ring as fierce competitors
Drama Unfolds in WWE Storylines: Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes Team Up
The ongoing storyline between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes took center stage during the episode. Despite initial reluctance, the two are set to team up against Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. Dave Simon captured the drama, explaining, “Roman and Cody just looked at each other in the ring. But that was not all because we had more.” He continued, mentioning Roman Reigns’ statement, “I don’t need a partner. I don’t need Cody Rhodes’ help. This is The Bloodline business.” The tension between Reigns and Rhodes is palpable, and their unexpected partnership adds a new layer of complexity to the storyline.
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Dave and Johnny analyze the current WWE storylines, focusing on Roman Reigns’ unexpected alliance with Cody Rhodes. Dave Simon emphasizes, “Can you imagine the rock, though? It’s got to be furious. Roman is going against the family, teaming with Cody Rhodes.” The hosts speculate on The Rock’s potential fallout and involvement in this ongoing saga.
Johnny North remarked on the peculiar nature of their team-up, “They just didn’t really have a good idea of how to bring them together. So let’s just have them get attacked, get attacked, and eventually they’ll just join because of common enemies.” The hosts agreed that while the storytelling might be clunky, it has certainly sparked interest among fans.
AEW Grand Slam 2024: Exciting Battles Ahead
Looking beyond WWE, the hosts also discussed the upcoming AEW Grand Slam event at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The two-part event will feature special episodes of AEW’s weekly programs, “Wednesday Night Dynamite” and “Saturday Night Collision.” Johnny North commented, “We could potentially see Bryan Danielson versus Jon Moxley or another big match to mark this year’s event.” AEW is looking to make a significant impact with this fourth annual Grand Slam.
Dave Simon noted the intrigue surrounding the event, stating, “There’s a lot of changes there for Grand Slam,” highlighting the unpredictable nature of AEW’s storytelling. Fans eagerly await how the narrative unfolds with matches like Bryan Danielson versus Nigel McGuinness and Jon Moxley facing Darby Allin.
Bret Hart Honoured in Calgary on Raw, Putting Over the Next Generation of WWE Superstars
On this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Calgary, WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart made a special appearance in his hometown. Bret was treated with great respect by the WWE, as current superstars like Sami Zayn and Gunther put him over in their promos. Sami wore the jersey of the late Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau as a tribute, while Gunther called Bret his second favourite wrestler of all time. Bret cut a promo about being a Canadian champion, defending the title no matter what. His niece Natalya had a match and victory dedicated to him.
Bret Hart reflects on returning home to Monday Night Raw.
The show also featured an awkward backstage moment between Bret and Triple H, given their complicated history, but Triple H seemed to be trying to do the right thing by Bret. Seeing Bret back in Calgary brought back memories for host Dave Simon of the famous 1997 Canadian Stampede pay-per-view in the same city. Overall, seeing Bret Hart honoured and respected by the WWE in his hometown was great.
Bret Hart’s Hatred of Goldberg will NEVER End.
WWE and AEW Commentary Teams Lack Emotion and Connection to the Matches
Dave Simon and Johnny North discussed their dissatisfaction with the current commentary teams in both WWE and AEW. They feel that commentators, especially in WWE, lack the emotion and ability to enhance the matches and instead serve as background noise. They contrasted this with memorable commentary teams of the past like Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan or Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, who were able to elevate the matches with their humour, insight and passion for the business. Both preferred having former wrestlers on commentary who understand and care about the product rather than broadcasters with a generic announcing style.
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Wrestling Uncensored 700th Episode: A Milestone Celebration
Next week marks the 700th episode of Wrestling Uncensored, and the hosts are excited about this milestone. Dave and Johnny reflected on the show’s journey and growth. They thank the loyal audience and tease some exciting plans for the upcoming special episode. Dave Simon mentioned, “Johnny North is going to miss the 700th episode of Wrestling Uncensored as he will be wrestling next week,” but expect surprises and memorable moments. Viewers are encouraged to watch us live and see what the hosts have in store for this celebratory episode.
Don’t Miss UFC 306 Coverage on Ringside Report Network
Finally, the hosts reminded viewers to tune into Ringside Report Network’s live coverage of UFC 306 with Dave Simon and Fred Garcia. The coverage will begin at 10 PM Eastern on YouTube here. Join the live watch-along for all the action and expert commentary.
Watch Wrestling Uncensored and Stay Updated
Catch the replay of this week’s Wrestling Uncensored episode on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick. Also, listen to the audio podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss next week’s 700th episode, and join us again Saturday night for the UFC 306 Live Watch Along!
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