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The latest edition of "After the Bell with Corey Graves" podcast is now available.
We hear a rather cantankerous Corey Graves intro the podcast, openly saying that he's not a good mood. He takes little time getting into his thoughts regarding this week's Monday Night Raw. Corey says he wasted three hours watching what was an insufferable television show. Corey knows he's going a little "hard in the paint" with that statement, but he means it from a place of passion. The former Raw commentator states he was left with a bad taste in his mouth, following this week's episode. He elaborates by saying he watches the Monday night staple from a different place now, mentioning that he used to call all the action being stuck in the bubble, and now he watches it on his couch in Pittsburgh with his girlfriend and his dog as a fan. Graves doesn't want to pick it apart. Although the host does acknowledge he does view the program, so he can talk about it on the weekly podcast. Because that's what he gets paid to do.
Graves states that Raw was tough and physically made him angry. And that was due to the Lana-Rusev-Bobby Lashley stuff. He admits he's not trying to beat a dead horse here. And Corey makes clear that is not the fault of the performers themselves openly admitting from the hours from 8-11 PM on Mondays, they have the best roster of talent anywhere. But what really set Corey Graves off and made him write a tweet about it was the fact that here you have a feud that was being built for months and they go to a wide shot of the crowd and the audience is silent. We hear them talk about how apathy is the worst thing in the business, going on to say you could be cheered or booed, but not getting any reaction from the live crowd is the worst thing. Especially since the match was weeks and weeks in the making.
Corey openly expresses his frustration regarding the use of Liv Morgan after you repackage her, use her in the Lashley Lana wedding which many had opinions about positive and negative and then she has such a limited role showing up at the end of the match getting Coke thrown on her by Lana after teasing she was going to be in Rusev's corner all week. He asked the question why should we care about Liv Morgan now? Especially since she was beaten up so easily. Corey says that the four talent involved need to move on to other things as this just seems to be beating a dead horse and asks what does the mixed tag set for next Monday really accomplish for anyone? He states that this is just the latest example of the company trying to recapture the good old days of the Attitude Era. And he reads stuff online where fans express sentiments regarding the time in the business as one of the best. And he even fondly looks back on it as really the boom period. The era made him want to get into the wrestling business. And he is sure that many fans probably wish that the wrestling business was more like that.
But he elaborates by saying The Attitude Era wasn't about cheesy Jerry Springer storylines, four-letter words, and boobs. It was about performers that were able to be themselves and connect with the audience. Not being pigeonholed into roles that fit a certain storyline. Sure, there were some cheesy over-the-top storylines in that era. But it was more about the talent competing with each other to bring out the best in everyone. You talk to Triple H, Stone Cold or anyone from that era and they will say that everyone was competing to be the best they could every night. Graves continues by saying there were some awful horrendous storylines like Mae Young giving birth to a hand or Katie Vick, but mostly it was about superstars stepping up their game. Even if you were in a garbage storyline got the opportunity to make your past and that's what he feels we miss as fans from that era. Not the rudeness and crudeness or jokes like "puppies" or things like that. But instead, we need more great action with guys having the ability to be seen as badasses with Graves pointing out that he thought that was the point of the storyline for Rusev in the first place. He goes on saying that you can give the Bulgarian Brute a chance to be entertaining but still gives him something to show off his athletic ability. Graves then continues on the same vein, discussing the first-ever advertised "Fistfight" every wrestling match has fistfights this was just guys doing cool moves with a different name. And he reiterates this is not any of the talent's fault. The six guys involved in that match are all top superstars. But who decided to put them in a scene from Anchorman? Graves also wonders who made the rules up for this thing? He said it was confusing. And while he is discussing stuff that makes him angry, what happened to The Street Profits? Corey talks about having them on the show a few weeks back and how they are stars. He mentions the inconsistent use of the tag team from backstage segments to matches, to bad comedy skits, etc. Graves says you need to let them be themselves and the micromanagement needs to stop. The company is its own worst enemy in this regard, according to Graves. He points out how Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy, for example. Stating that if Murphy loses two weeks in euro why should the audience be invested and care.
Corey then catches his breath and calms down. He says he's been under-rested And over-caffeinated.
We then transition into talking about this past week's Friday Night SmackDown. Graves mentions that he got all the negative out with Raw and now he's going to focus on the positive. Corey states that he's been having a good time calling the show on Fox He states that SmackDown has been building slowly but now everyone seemingly has a storyline. Graves says that it is just fun and he likes a more laid-back vibe on Friday nights. Not everything is so serious or a blood feud. You have Corbin and Roman and all the surrounding pieces within but for the most part, the show is just fun. He says the one thing that is negative is a widespread problem within WWE is the number one contender defeating the challenger before the pay-per-view. Graves says it happens all the time and it does. Corey points out Braun Strowman pinning Nakamura. And he's not just saying that because he is a fan of Nakamura, Sami Zayn and Cesaro, saying he loves the trio of them together. Corey states that Sami and crew are good bad guys because you want to punch them in the face and that is what a good bad guy supposed to do. He loves Braun Strowman two, stating that he's been a man without a country recently and he's glad to see him challenging for the Intercontinental Championship. But Graves would've liked to Wait until the Championship match to see the challenger get the pinfall. Corey says he just wants to see something different because we see the scenario all the time.
Graves transitions into talking about the drama unfolding between Mandy Rose and Otis. He states, despite what he says on TV, he loves Otis. Corey mentions that Daniel Bryan, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the business sees something in Otis as well. He states that Otis is odd and bizarre. And when talking about the on-screen romance with Mandy Rose as elementary school romance expecting the big man from Heavy Machinery to stuff Valentines in Mandy Rose Valentine's box. He would just like to see something a little more sophisticated with some romantic comedy stylings but he will take what he can get.
Corey then moves on to discuss NXT going into the depths of the women's division right now. He remembers the time where Asuka was running roughshod over the women's division and that there would never be another one like her. Then comes along Shayna Baszler who equals if not what Asuka accomplished. And then you say no one's going to surpass Shayna but then you see all these other women. The potential is limitless. Graves then transitions into talking about Takeover Blackpool II, saying that it was an awesome show and that if you haven't watched it you should. Even if you haven't watched NXT UK before it's great to get to know some new talent. He talks about Tom Phillips and William Regal on the preshow giving props to his former commentary partner and mentioning the NXT GM expressed the atmosphere in the venue. Graves put over Tyler Bate versus Jordan Devlin for its greatness.
The podcast host discusses The Time Splitters coming to NXT. Corey mentions his long history with Alex Shelley back on the independent scene, saying they lost touch over the years as that happens in the business. But he is truly happy for him to be under the WWE banner calling Alex a really good dude. And he hopes to reconnect with Shelley at some point. We then hear Corey thoughts regarding Austin Theory, saying that the 23-year-old is built like a brick you know what, and he loved his run as Evolve Champion. He can't wait to see what he does in the future.
We then transition into the interview with Drew McIntyre, Corey says the Scotsman is his pick to be the winner of the 2020 Royal Rumble. Drew says he does not to say that just because on the podcast. Corey jokes okay, he takes it back. Drew says he's been doing this for about 14 years and getting one WWE title shot would be nice. Graves states he's been clamoring for it for weeks. Corey asks how the time away from WWE affected him as a man. McIntyre talks about being 23 or 24 when Vince endorsed him on television say he was going to be a future World Champion. The former Chosen One says he didn't know that was going to happen but it had a lot of pressure on him. Unfortunately, Mr. McMahon's production hasn't happened yet. Drew talks about getting a call about his release thinking it was going to be a creative change in his role and he was shocked when it came. McIntyre says after he received the call the Scottish Psychopath sat down and reevaluated what he wanted to be and what he wanted to do. Drew says he wanted to establish who Drew Galloway was and is thankful for the opportunities given to him by ICW in Scotland and Gabe Sapolsky in Evolve.
Corey mentions how Drew's fight against complacency is not just a gimmick is reality. He truly believes it. Drew reiterates that he never wants to take an opportunity for granted given his past. McIntyre states that he is probably the closest to Drew Galloway/Drew McIntyre he's ever been. Corey asks about adding the countdown to the Claymore Kick. McIntyre says he did at a live event and just decided to incorporate into his repertoire. He talks about the more interactive in his promos and his in ring work to let the audience in more.
Graves asked about becoming a fan when he was younger. McIntyre mentioned wrestling with his stuffed animals and making his own fantasy wrestling cards. Corey asks Drew about his early days training with Alex Shane. McIntyre says he was probably a little too young. He is then asked about who on the UK scene was most impressed with. He mentions a lot of the names associated with NXT UK. Graves then asks what is on the horizon, McIntyre states he hopes a championship opportunity with a great video package telling the whole story of Drew McIntyre/Drew Galloway. They then talk about his music, which makes them both feel like he's coming to war to kick ass. Graves wishes Drew nothing But the best.
We then transition into Corey Graves talking about the inevitable tradition pointing at the WrestleMania sign, which Graves hopes will be shaped like a pirate ship. He also mentions that he watched Wrestle Kingdom giving the props for expanding it to two separate nights. He also gives props to Juice Robinson. He then posits whether WrestleMania should be two separate nights with one championship on one night and the other world title on the other. He wants fans to tweet at #ATB with the responses.
Next up is the interview with Keith Lee. Corey Graves asked him how he got to WWE. Lee states it was a long journey mentioning that he did extra work for the company and at one point was shoved into a barricade by Triple H, poked in the eye by Shane McMahon and punched in the face by Vince during his on-camera appearances. This led to a tryout in 2008. Unfortunately, WWE passed on Lee. He received another tryout a few years later and they passed again. Lee received talked with Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross who told him to keep going. It wasn't until Evolve that Keith Lee got back on the radar. Graves asks about his style on whether someone at the Performance Center tried to break him of his working ability and compete as a traditional big man. Keith says they did try to break him of it. They just try to understand it and harness it. Graves asks about Keith Lee's growing pains within NXT and what caused the meteoric rise of late. Lee says he's not sure sometimes things just happen. On what is the future for him, and whether he sees a Raw or SmackDown appearance in his future. He states he doesn't know. He just is taking it as it comes. Lee talks about wanting to capture NXT gold next week against Roderick Strong.
Graves then plays The Electric Seat with Lee to end the interview.
Then Corey Graves reads responses regarding the questions asked on last week's podcast and then tells the audience to watch the 1992 Royal Rumble on WWE Network.
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