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The latest episode of "After the Bell with Corey Graves" is now available.
Corey Graves opens the show by saying there is no blood left in his caffeine stream. This is one of those weeks where real-life outdoes wrestling life as he is currently moving from one house that he is never at to one he will never be. He announces an "After the Bell New Year's Spectacular" in which he asks the audience to tweet questions with the hashtag #AskATB to be answered on the show.
Graves transitions into talking about Sunday's TLC event and how it feels like it came out of nowhere. Corey says it feels like Survivor Series just ended and everyone is still trying to recover from that show. He discusses how there is discussion online and internally in WWE that event has a lack of build. As of recording, there were too many matches announced. But that gives Graves optimism that TLC could be the sleeper event of the year. He mentions this past year's "Stomping Grounds", saying that pay-per-view had a similar feel to this one. The SmackDown commentator states that while that pay-per-view wasn't the culmination of really anything and felt like a placeholder, it was a good show. " Stomping Grounds" wasn't story-driven, it was more match driven. Graves goes on to say that he thinks this year's "TLC" has the potential to be just that and he states it doesn't hurt that they will have tables, ladders, and chairs as well. And that never sucks.
He is excited to see what is on tap for the event and runs down some of the matches on the card. Corey says he is stoked For Roman Reigns versus Baron Corbin saying the two will beat the holy hell out of each other. Buddy Murphy versus Aleister Black has the potential to be a sleeper hit. Corey says Murphy and Black haven't really had the opportunity to show what they can do. And if anyone knows them and have seen them knows what they're capable of. But the most important thing on the show, according to Graves is Becky Lynch and Charlotte challenging for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles against The Kabuki Warriors.
Corey reiterates his past position that Charlotte Flair has not felt as important lately. He mentions the positive and negative feedback he got from his comments regarding The Queen but mentions that the audience had a lot of valid points regarding Asuka not being the same person. He doesn't disagree with any of that. Graves says that the past year has been a big year for the women, headlining Wrestlemania and was the culmination of everything in the Women's Revolution or Evolution. And goes on to say, that every time the women were given an opportunity that knocked it out of the park. Graves says he doesn't know what's going on regarding Raw and SmackDown, because NXT's division is on fire. It isn't slight on the talent on Raw and SmackDown rosters or their desire to perform, but something isn't working. Graves says he doesn't know what to fix is but talks about the career of The Empress of Tomorrow prior to losing her streak at Wrestlemania 34 to Charlotte. Corey asks if the audience remembers when Asuka used to kick ass. He acknowledges that she is a current Tag Team Champion. But maligned the fact that now she can't get a victory without using the dreaded poison mist. Looking elsewhere on the roster, Graves mentions the disappearance and reappearance of Liv Morgan who he calls a star waiting to be born. He hopes that Ruby Riott comes back from injury soon. The former Savior of Misbehavior says he is probably forgetting a lot of names. And he mentions that he may be partial but when has Carmella really done anything of substance lately? Corey mentions SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley even in her new role doesn't feel important. Again reiterating it's not about the talent of the roster. He talks about the mistranslation from NXT, the main roster, and it's bad that she is the champion and it doesn't really mean anything. Corey goes on to say that he is sure that people take this out of context and make soundbites out of it. He once again emphatically states that this is not a knock on anyone on the roster, saying the women are insanely talented. Maybe it's time to start another hashtag for the women. Bringing up #GiveDivasaChance. He just wants the Women's Champion's on the roster to be the focus and spotlighted that's why he thinks The Women's Tag Team Match at TLC could be special as it will remind people how deep and talented the female roster is.
Graves segues into talking about his move saying that his movers were supposed to come on Monday and canceled on him. That's something that happens in 2019. So he sat in his empty condo watching Monday Night Raw. He calls the Lana-Rusev divorce segment something close to Jerry Springer and tells people to check it out. Corey says he enjoys Seth Rollins in his new role with the AOP mentioning it harkens back to J&J Security but now Rollins has two behemoths. It's a fun development and he can't wait to see where it goes. Graves says it is very hard with all the wrestling he has watched make him cringe. But the curb stomp to Kevin Owens in the back definitely did that. It made his skin crawl a little bit. Graves talks about the US Championship main event, saying there was buzz about show going off the air right before the ring announcement was finished. Corey says he likes that, maybe they should do more of that and not have the show, neatly wrapped up at 10:59 PM Eastern. He doesn't think they should ever do that on a pay-per-view like WCW did with Halloween Havoc 1998, but to do that on television every once a while would be cool. Graves likes a little mystery and not knowing what exactly went down. He says that gives the show a little legitimacy. At least that's his optimistic spin on things. Being a corporate guy. A shill like he truly is.
We then transition into the first interview of the podcast with the Street Profits. Corey complements the team on their efforts this past Monday against the Viking Raiders and on their new segment, "Monday After the Weekend Update". Graves asks where the idea for the new segment came from. Ford and Dawkins said that the creative team just wanted to try something new and they were fortunate enough to be the ones to do it. They went in and tried to go balls to the wall with it and hopefully, it came out enjoyable. It was one of the first things they tried to do differently since getting called up to Raw. They did those backstage hype segments. But this was something different. It was cool that they trusted them with that kind of element. Corey says it was a lot of fun. The Street Profits agree.
Graves then recounts his history with Angelo Dawkins dating back to the days of Florida Championship Wrestling, telling a story around picture day and Dawkins not having any traditional wrestling gear. Angelo remembers how guys on the roster wanted to give him their trunks. But he was afraid he could not fit in them. So he just wore basketball shorts. He finds it ironic that he is now primarily wrestling in basketball shorts. Dawkins discusses his journey to FCW and being recruited by Gerry Brisco at a wrestling tournament and not really knowing very much about wrestling in the sports entertainment field. Graves talks about his love of Ohio State but never officially going there. Montez Ford discusses his military background, going to WWE's website and applying for a tryout in 2013. Ford discusses being a fan growing up and how being inside the business is much different than anyone expects. He says Lars Sullivan and Ivar were also in that tryout were in that tryout where the one piece of feedback Ford got was to put on weight. Ford took that seriously gaining 45 pounds. Graves asked the pair how the team came to be. Ford responds by saying they were friends, right from the start. He says that first met after his second tryout where he got hired, they took him to an acting class where Dawkins was in the two really hit it off based on the clothes that both were wearing at the time. A year and a half later they were put together. Graves mentions that Dawkins was one of the longest-tenured NXT talents for quite some time, he asked how did it feel to finally click with something in regards to Montez. Angelo said that it was great. He tried a lot of characters, even a few tag partners but he enjoys the creative partnership that he and Montez have. Graves asks Montez about his relationship with Bianca Belair and how they make that work, now that he is on Raw and she is on NXT Wednesdays. Ford says it's all about communication. He states you just have to make it work. Montez states that he still tries to go to an NXT taping when he can, but she is doing great. Corey jokes their kids will be so athletic that will come out looking like Bobby Lashley. Corey asks The Street Profits what's on the horizon for the team, they say the Raw Tag Team Titles. And Dawkins and Ford just want to make sure they take any opportunity they're given and make it spectacular. Adapt to any situation and entertain. Graves asks if there were any hiccups going from NXT to Monday Night Raw and who if anybody had been helping them. They mentioned a cavalcade of talent from Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, R-Truth, Xavier Woods, Tyler Breeze have been giving them advice. They said they haven't experienced the cutthroat nature of years past. Ford and Dawkins said it helps that most of the roster came through NXT. Graves equated to a minor-league baseball team. The Street Profits put over Corey Graves for his advice, Graves doesn't want to ruin his image.
Next up is the interview with Paige. Corey says he doesn't see her that often anymore. She jokes she decided not to come into work (WWE) anymore. Corey doesn't think he could do that. Graves asks Paige how she enjoys her new broadcasting role with Fox and "WWE Backstage". The former WWE Divas Champion said she loves working with Renée Young, calling her amazing. In regards to Booker T is great but he talks a lot, it's hard to get in any airtime. In regards to CM Punk's return, she said it was great and no one knew except for Renée. Corey asks Paige how different it is working for Fox than WWE. She states it feels much more corporate. She runs down what a typical Tuesday looks like prepping for the show. Paige mentions that the cast will pitch ideas for the show, which producers will use. She says the process is quick and easy.
Paige says that they treat her wonderfully. Corey asks her if she likes pushing boundaries on "WWE Backstage", Paige says wishes she could do it more. But they get reigned back in. With CM Punk being on the show and he is employed by Fox, he pushes the boundaries. Paige says she was hired for an honest opinion and that's what she's going to keep doing.
Corey asks Paige about her outside projects. She teases a surprise in the new year and talks about her clothing line and makeup line. But again teases the new project in the new year. Corey asks who is she looking at and interested in WWE. Paige says Rhea Ripley. From her ring gear to her age, she reminds Paige of herself. Graves asks her about the current state of the Raw and SmackDown Women's Division, the Anti-Diva agrees with Graves. She's just not that interested in it. Paige says she wants to see a second women's pay-per-view and doesn't understand why other women that don't get featured. She loves Sasha, Becky, Charlotte and Bayley. But there are so many other women that deserve a chance. Paige and Corey then play The Electric Chair word association game.
Corey then runs down his thoughts on SmackDown. He likes the Bray Wyatt-The Miz segment, saying the more you use Bray and not The Fiend, the better off the character is. Graves states that the segment with Elias and Drake Maverick drove him up a wall. He's been friends with Drake many years and he is capable of so much more. And we have tried the Elias babyface experiment before it didn't work. Corey talks about the Roman Reigns Dolph Ziggler match was awesome. And confirms that the final segment did use actual dog food because it smelled. Corey compares the scene with Roman Reigns bound to a scene out of John Wick. He can't wait to see what comes next.
Next up is the interview with Charlotte. They discuss the first awkward meeting, not knowing what to do. Graves discusses what he mentioned about the Queen last week and Charlotte backing him on social media. Corey reiterates his point about the Raw and SmackDown Women's Division. Flair says that she is held to a different standard. And just because she doesn't have a blow away match that she is looking not doing all she can. Charlotte says her consistency may be her downfall. She runs down her accomplishments this year and says maybe being consistently on TV is the reason why. In regards to whether there's been a drop off in the women's division as a whole. She says the Wrestlemania build was organic and things lately haven't been clicking not because of the talent. There's not a story for the audience to invest themselves in wholeheartedly when that comes it will be great. Discussing her TLC match, she states that there are interesting stories going on all throughout the match and it will be interesting to see what comes out of it. She will be going to Mexico on Christmas with Andrade. Charlotte says the fall has been nothing but tours putting over her recent media trip to India, Graves asks her about training with Andrade, Charlotte says training a Lucha style pushes her to a new gear.
Corey talks about the newly announced WWE Hall of Famers Bautista and nWo. He says they are both deserving and great choices. He likes Sean Waltman space But Graves wonders if the fourth man inducted with the new world order shouldn't be Eric Bischoff. He doesn't know business dealings or any of that stuff but to him it makes more sense given his impact with the group. Or Graves theorizes what about the Great Muta in the WWE Hall of Fame breaking the only in WWE rule.
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