Happy Fourth of July weekend! 🇺🇸

WWE finally stopped playing it safe... now don't ruin it.

This week we're breaking down one of the biggest episodes of RAW on the road to SummerSlam.

King Oba Femi chooses Brock Lesnar over his guaranteed championship opportunity.

Did WWE just weaken the entire point of King of the Ring?

Alexander the Great discusses why the reported long-term plan may make sense for Oba Femi... but not for the tournament itself.

He also dive into Seth Rollins' incredible promo opposite Roman Reigns, why it instantly made SummerSlam feel bigger, and why it reminded us just how special their rivalry really is.

Plus: • Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell

• Sami Zayn's WWE Championship reign already feels in danger

• CM Punk SummerSlam speculation

• Chad Gable continues building momentum

• Gunther vs. Nick Aldis?

• Liv Morgan, Iyo Sky & Judgment Day

• Rhea Ripley's SummerSlam uncertainty

• LA Knight, The Bloodline

• Cody Rhodes becomes No. 1 Contender (SmackDown Spoilers) & much more

We also cover the biggest SmackDown spoilers from the July 3 taped episode, what they mean for SummerSlam, and why WWE's next few weeks could determine whether this year's SummerSlam becomes an all-time classic... or another missed opportunity.

This week's episode is brought to you by Zarc International.

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🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music

📲 Follow Alexander the Great everywhere: @Froe87 (Froe = "Fro" like afro... add the E...87.)

💬 Join the TTW Discord and keep the wrestling conversation going all week long with fellow wrestling fans talking RAW, SmackDown, SummerSlam, fantasy booking, news, rumors, and everything in between.

00:00

The Pointlessness of King of the Ring

06:09

Oba Femi, Brock Lesnar & WWE's SummerSlam Plan

12:03

Can WWE Avoid Screwing Sami Zayn?

18:03

RAW Midcard Roundup: Rey, Hendry, Iyo & Gable

24:08

Joe Hendry, Austin Theory & The Vision

29:46

LA Knight, The Bloodline & Gunther's Next Rival

38:52

The Judgment Day, Danhausen & Chad Gable's Momentum

45:14

The Alpha Academy Story Continues

54:06

Seth Rollins Delivers a FANTASTIC promo

01:06:56

SmackDown Spoilers, Rhea Ripley News & SummerSlam Roadmap

For weeks we've been sitting here saying the same thing...

WWE has been playing it safe.

Predictable champions.

Predictable booking.

A SummerSlam build that desperately needed something to wake it up.

Then Night of Champions happened.

Sami Zayn shocked the wrestling world by pinning Cody Rhodes CLEAN to become the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion, Oba Femi was crowned King of the Ring, Iyo Sky became Queen of the Ring, and suddenly the road to SummerSlam feels exciting because—for the first time in a while—we genuinely don't know what's coming next.

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🔥 IN THIS EPISODE

🏆 Sami Zayn defeats Cody Rhodes & GUNTHER to become the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion

👑 King Oba is officially crowned

👑 Queen Iyo earns another shot at Liv Morgan

🤔 Why WWE finally stopped playing it safe

💥 Why Bron Breakker should have won

💥 Why Jade Cargill should have won

🔥 How one night completely changed the SummerSlam landscape

👀 RAW Preview featuring Roman Reigns' return and the fallout from Night of Champions

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💥 ALSO DISCUSSED

• Cody Rhodes finally passing the torch to Sami Zayn • Why unpredictability is back • Oba Femi's dominant rise • The future of Brock Lesnar • SummerSlam championship scenarios • Ricky Saints' continued momentum • WWE finally taking creative risks • Why not knowing what's next is the best thing that could have happened heading into SummerSlam

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🛡️ This episode is sponsored by Zarc International.

You insure your home.

You insure your vehicle.

You insure your health.

Why not protect yourself, too?

Check out VEXOR Pepper Spray from Zarc International—the family business that's been manufacturing personal safety products since 1982.

Be Prepared.

Protect Yourself.

Carry Vexor.

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Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling is your home for weekly RAW, SmackDown, Premium Live Event coverage, WWE news, fantasy booking, long-term storytelling discussions, wrestling philosophy, and everything happening on the road to SummerSlam.

Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

⭐ If we earned your listen, we'd truly appreciate a 5-star rating and review!

Follow Alexander the Great on X & TikTok:

@Froe87

Join the Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Discord and keep the conversation going all week with fellow wrestling fans discussing RAW, SmackDown, Premium Live Events, fantasy booking, predictions, and everything happening across WWE.

00:00 WWE Finally Stopped Playing It Safe

03:12 Night of Champions Overall Thoughts

05:59 King Oba Is Crowned

10:58 Queen Iyo Is Crowned

18:10 Rollins vs. Breakker - Wrong Winner?

25:06 Why Bron Needed This More

31:09 Seth Wins... But Should He Have?

36:36 Trick Williams vs. Ricky Saints

42:32 Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill

55:12 Sami Zayn Shocks WWE

01:04:26 NEW WWE Champion!

01:11:01 What's Next for Sami?

01:15:58 Sami's 20-Year Journey

01:20:04 They Saved SummerSlam

01:23:56 Night of Champions Final Grades

01:27:00 RAW Preview | Roman Returns

One night.

Two crowns.

Two SummerSlam decisions.

Night of Champions isn't just about who wins King and Queen of the Ring...

it's about who takes control heading into SummerSlam.

Are WWE's tournament winners the right choices?

Will new stars be created?

Or is WWE about to play it safe when they should be building the future?

This week, we make our official Night of Champions predictions while opening the TTW Vault for two of our biggest countdowns yet.

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🔥 IN THIS EPISODE

👑 TTW Vault: Top 5 Greatest King of the Ring Winners of All Time

🏰 TTW Vault: Top 5 Greatest King of the Ring Moments of All Time

👑 Official Queen of the Ring Finals Predictions

🤴 Official King of the Ring Finals Predictions

🔒 Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker – Steel Cage Match

🏆 Championship Match Predictions

🎯 Which winners create the most compelling SummerSlam matchups?

🤔 Who SHOULD win... and who WILL win?

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💥 ALSO DISCUSSED

• Stone Cold's legendary Austin 3:16 promo • Undertaker vs. Mankind: Hell in a Cell • King Booker • Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon • Xavier Woods finally becoming King • Bret Hart, Brock Lesnar, Owen Hart & Triple H • Why King & Queen of the Ring matter more than the crowns themselves

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🛡️ This episode is sponsored by Zarc International.

You insure your house.

You insure your car.

You insure your health.

Why not insure yourself?

Check out VEXOR Pepper Spray from Zarc International and carry with confidence every day.

Be Prepared.

Protect Yourself.

Carry Vexor.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling is your home for weekly RAW, SmackDown, Premium Live Event coverage, WWE news, fantasy booking, long-term storytelling discussions, wrestling philosophy and everything happening across WWE on the road to the next major event.

Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

⭐ If we earned your listen, leave us a 5-star rating and review!

Follow Alexander the Great on X & TikTok:

@Froe87

Join the Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Discord and keep the conversation going all week with fellow wrestling fans discussing RAW, SmackDown, Premium Live Events, fantasy booking, predictions, and everything WWE.

00:00 – One Night. Two Crowns. Why Night of Champions Matters

04:14 – TTW Vault: Top 5 King of the Ring Winners

13:03 – Bret Hart vs. Brock Lesnar: Who Deserves the Higher Ranking?

19:04 – Brock Lesnar's King of the Ring Legacy

25:36 – Triple H, The King of Kings & The Curtain Call

29:31 – Owen Hart vs. Kurt Angle: Two All-Time Great Winners

33:30 – Owen Hart: The King of Harts

37:44 – Kurt Angle's Meteoric Rise to the Top

45:30 – Why Stone Cold Is the Greatest King of the Ring Winner Ever

54:02 – TTW Vault: Top 5 King of the Ring Moments

01:01:53 – King Booker & Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon

01:07:34 – Austin 3:16: The Promo That Changed Wrestling

01:08:41 – Undertaker vs. Mankind: The Greatest King of the Ring Moment

01:14:32 – Official Night of Champions Predictions

01:22:23 – Final Thoughts & SummerSlam Outlook