New Netflix Raw Demands - WWE Crown Jewel Concerns Grow - PWI 500 Announced

Name: New Netflix Raw Demands - WWE Crown Jewel Concerns Grow - PWI 500 Announced
Uploaded: 2026-09-25T05:20:19+00:00
Duration: 19 min 23 s
Channel: FroWrestling Podcast

00:00Pro-Pro-Pro-Wrestling Podcast

00:05Pro-Pro-Pro-Wrestling Podcast

00:12Pro-Wrestling

00:15What?

00:19What?

00:22Bang!

00:23Bang!

00:24Oh my god, what the?

00:25He's breaking it!

00:26Whoa!

00:28Pro-Wrestling Podcast

00:30Just when they think they got the answers, I change the question.

00:35Breath through breath.

00:37Yeah!

00:39Woo!

00:40You deserve it!

00:42You deserve it!

00:45Who are you to doubt Elton?

00:47Because this guy's a serious professional.

00:49What are you doing?

00:50Oh!

00:52Oh!

00:52What a cut down!

00:54Unbelievable!

00:55Turned my table into cold air.

01:00And I am a macho-pailing savage.

01:04Breath of breath!

01:06Breath of breath!

01:09The Wastling Podcast!

01:12Shut the mouth, you're thong-wearing fatty!

01:15I said WWE stands for!

01:18Wastling Podcast!

01:21It's me, Austin!

01:23I will never retire!

01:27What a cut down!

01:28What a cut down!

01:30Promotional consideration paid for by the following.

01:37Hey, yo, Pro-Wrestling Podcast listeners.

01:39Welcome to the show where we don't sing it, we bring it.

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03:43Hello, everybody. Welcome to this episode of the Fro Wrestling Podcast.

03:46I am Dr. Fro. I really want to thank you for being here with us.

03:49If you've got questions, comments, something you want me to touch on in a future episode, the best way to

03:54let me know that is actually in the comments section of the episode.

03:58But some people really want to go elsewhere. You want to talk through your things. You don't like typing it

04:02out. That's fine.

04:03We've got the Fro Wrestling Sound Offline, 267-642-1160. It's a talk-to-text service. You speak it, I'll

04:09see it, and I will address those in a fan response episode in the future.

04:13We'd love to get the engagement from you guys about the topics that you want us to be talking about.

04:17Tonight's episode, we're going to delve into a couple things.

04:20One, starting with Netflix, after the performance of the Roman Reigns Penta Match on Raw a couple weeks ago,

04:27the Netflix offices are buzzing with how happy they are with WWE programming,

04:33and they are putting pressure on WWE's creative team to start adding more big match feeling opportunities and more superstars

04:41to the Raw brand.

04:42Keep in mind how much money they are paying Netflix to have Raw on their platform.

04:47When they see a spike in numbers, despite going head-to-head with Monday Night Football early in the NFL

04:53season,

04:54that's powerful, and it's clear to them that there's money to be made there.

04:58When they saw the uptick in both views, merchandise sales, fan response, all that stuff,

05:04this is an encouraging sign for Raw.

05:06And look, I get it. Right now, I would argue SmackDown's actually the better brand,

05:10but think about what that means in terms of WWE and future marketing deals.

05:14When SmackDown's next deal comes due, if Netflix is loving what's going on with Raw,

05:19and if WWE is responsive to their request to put more major stars and big-time matches on their program,

05:25when SmackDown's negotiation comes up, there's a possibility they land a massive deal with Netflix to have that program move

05:31there as well.

05:32I know it's very early to be talking about that because SmackDown is signed for several years still,

05:36but it's always things you have to think about because in these corporate situations,

05:40that's what they're looking to do is to grow their business,

05:42and that's going to be a way to do that for SmackDown,

05:44is with the biggest distribution platform they can, bringing in the biggest dollars for the company.

05:50It's not about revenue that you generate from house shows anymore.

05:52It's about these huge licensing deals that they're doing,

05:55and that's why we're seeing so many less house shows and so much money being thrown around

06:01for all these television platforms and streaming platforms.

06:03So we have to keep our eye on that. It should be very interesting.

06:06There is some serious concern going around WWE headquarters

06:09and amongst talent and production individuals about WWE Crown Jewel coming in November 7th

06:15to the Riyadh season area in Saudi Arabia.

06:19And the reason for this is, as we spoke about in a previous episode,

06:23the United States Department of Homeland Security has upgraded travel warnings about the Middle East to Level 3,

06:29which is basically a strong discouragement from traveling to Saudi Arabia right now from the United States.

06:37The only thing higher than that, really, is a Level 4, which is like a full stop, don't go kind

06:41of thing.

06:41So there are people who are significantly concerned.

06:45Where it is, is that there have already been backstage, creative, productive people

06:50who are already asking the questions about, are there alternate plans?

06:54Where could this change to?

06:56Do we need to start planning an alternate opportunity?

06:59Because they are very concerned about the geopolitical climate right now in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

07:04And I don't blame them. There's a lot going on.

07:07So what we're going to have to do is, this is a situation to continue to monitor on almost a

07:11daily basis

07:12because they're going to need time to both broker a deal with another city

07:16and tickets will have to be refunded for the people in Saudi Arabia.

07:21You're also going to have to resell tickets to wherever you change the location to.

07:25If indeed that's what you go with, you're going to have to determine your distribution.

07:29So there's a lot to be had.

07:30And if they're going to do that, they're going to need to make this decision sooner than later.

07:33We're almost, we're right around a week away for being into October.

07:37It does not give them a lot of time to shift things around.

07:40And this, this crown jewel event should be huge.

07:43There's going to be some killer matches on this card.

07:45You can tell just by the way the creative is flowing right now.

07:48And I don't think anybody wants to miss that.

07:50And I, I, I understand $50 million every time they run a show in Saudi Arabia

07:55is a tough pill to swallow for WWE not to get that money.

07:58But the safety of your talent and your crew has got to be paramount.

08:02And that's something they need to keep, put at the highest levels of their priority.

08:06And right now it just doesn't seem like Saudi Arabia is where you want to be

08:10in terms of putting on a wrestling show where people are going to know that,

08:14you know, tens of thousands of people are going to be located.

08:17It's just not a great decision.

08:19All right.

08:19We got to get into this.

08:20It is the news of the day.

08:22The PWI 500 has come out.

08:24We have a new champion at the top of the 500 Pro Wrestling Illustrated,

08:29which is a magazine that's been out since 1979, I believe.

08:33If I got that right, the first issue I actually have a copy of is the one that had

08:38Mill Mascaris and Dusty Rhodes on the front cover.

08:42They have started several years ago, many, many years ago.

08:45A top 500 list came out every year.

08:47Top 100 women, top so many tag teams, this, that, and the other.

08:50Well, we're not going to go through all of that because obviously we don't have

08:53enough time to do that, but we are going to talk about the top 10.

08:55We're going to count them down in reverse order.

08:57At number 10 is Gunther.

08:59And I really, the problem I have with this is I think Gunther could easily slot in

09:03at number one if he was booked differently this year.

09:06But let's be honest, Gunther isn't the world champion, and that's a huge part of

09:11the criteria they look at for determining these rankings.

09:13He's been on television, but not as frequently.

09:16I mean, like where's Gunther been since SummerSlam?

09:18He really hasn't done much.

09:20You know what I mean?

09:20And so Gunther being there, and look, they have a time period, a window of what they

09:25count for the voting for this, and I'm sure that post-SummerSlam this year is not factored

09:31into that discussion because they have to get this stuff ready long ahead of time.

09:34But I feel like Gunther, the only reason he's not higher on the list is because he does not

09:38have the number of dates that some of the other talents on here do.

09:42Now, he came in at 10.

09:43At number nine, Obafemi.

09:47Obafemi cruising all the way up into the top 10.

09:49Again, his ascension this year has just been like storybook.

09:54I mean, that guy is as over as it gets.

09:56Now, I'm thrilled for Oba to be in the top 10.

09:58When you take out Brock Lesnar and end his career, that's about as notable as it comes.

10:02You basically tease a blood feud with Roman Reigns.

10:06It makes a lot of sense.

10:07But here is my issue.

10:08He comes in at nine is who comes in at number eight.

10:11I would take eight and nine and switch them at best.

10:14And that's because at number eight is Trick Williams.

10:16And I have a tough time putting Trick ahead of Oba.

10:19I get it.

10:19Trick has won the United States Championship twice.

10:21But like I said, I don't think the most recent win is factored into their timetable for the

10:26voting for this, even if it was.

10:29Obafemi retired Brock Lesnar, decimated him at WrestleMania.

10:33Like the stuff that this guy has done.

10:35And he's appeared regularly on television.

10:38That's why he's above Gunther.

10:40I just feel like his impact is so much more than Trick.

10:42Now, are they saying that Trick has better skill set that that's debatable, but I can

10:46see where they might say that Trick may be the bigger star, like in terms of longevity,

10:51because usually big guys like Oba don't usually make it as long.

10:55They don't stay in the business as long.

10:57You know, Brock is like the exception to the rule, but he's a genetic freak to begin with.

11:01But I don't know.

11:01We'll have to wait and see.

11:03So we got Trick coming in at number seven.

11:06New Japan Pro Wrestling's Yoda Suji.

11:08And if you have not seen a Yoda Suji match, you are missing out.

11:12Find him on YouTube.

11:14This guy, IWGP champion.

11:16This is main event level.

11:17This is somebody who could easily show up.

11:20And here's the thing.

11:20I feel like there's some tension between he and AEW because AEW gets the better end of

11:26the working relationship between their two companies.

11:28I would love to see this guy in an AEW ring.

11:31I'd love to see him going against a Kenny Omega or see him going against a Swerve Strickland

11:36or somebody like that or a Jon Moxley because I think this guy can really go.

11:39Now, I would have no problem seeing that same situation take place over in New Japan, Wrestle

11:44Kingdom at one of their big shows or something like that.

11:47But this guy is talented.

11:49He deserves the spot in the top 10.

11:50He comes in at number seven.

11:51Number six, I'm a little iffy on Hangman Adam Page, who I get it, has had some big programs,

11:58but he's never allowed to challenge for the world championship again.

12:01He's in a trios team now.

12:03Disappeared for a big chunk of the year.

12:05I don't know how he comes in at six with that kind of work schedule when Gunther is at 10.

12:11Just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

12:14From there, number five, Kanosuke Takeshka.

12:18I'm shocked to see him this high.

12:19I'm thrilled to see him this high because he's better than what they make him out to be.

12:23All right.

12:24Takeshka has done a lot in New Japan and obviously in AEW.

12:28He's done everything from being in the Don Callis family to breaking away from the Don Callis family.

12:32He's done.

12:33He did the G1 Climax.

12:35He has done so much.

12:36This is a huge amount of respect for Takeshka.

12:40And the fact that he's in the top 10 and certain other people are not like Kazuchika Okada, not in

12:46the top 10.

12:46Like Kenny Omega, not in the top 10.

12:49There's a lot of people that are not even on the top 10 list.

12:52Swerve Strickland is not in the top 10.

12:54But you have Takeshka there.

12:56That's a testament to his international travel and matches he does all over the world.

13:02Kudos to him.

13:02I'm a huge Takeshka fan.

13:04Coming at number four, the main man in CMLL, Mystico.

13:07Former Sin Cara in WWE.

13:10And look, Sin Cara is long gone.

13:12Mystico is one of the, if not the, greatest wrestlers in the world.

13:15He deserves this spot.

13:17I would actually not have been surprised if he went anywhere, one, two, three, or four.

13:22Him coming in at four, I'm fine with.

13:23But it would not, this year, it would not have surprised me to see him be even higher on this

13:27list.

13:27So congratulations to Mystico.

13:29CM Punk comes in at number three.

13:31And as a guy who, in this calendar year, has worn the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Championship.

13:38He's been in premium matches, main evented WrestleMania, all that stuff.

13:42I have no problem with Punk being on the number three spot.

13:45I don't know that I would elevate him higher than that.

13:47But I think three is a good landing place for CM Punk.

13:51You'll notice I have not said Seth Rollins' name either.

13:53He is not on the top 10 list.

13:56So that leaves a couple big names out of the top 10.

13:59And we have two left.

14:00Coming in at number two, last year's number one, Cody Rhodes.

14:06Falls out of the top spot.

14:08That actually kind of surprised me, to be honest with you.

14:10But in the past few months, he has relinquished the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.

14:14Hasn't gotten it back.

14:15I don't think he is anytime soon, which is good for him.

14:19He needs a break from the championship picture for a little while.

14:22And we've seen some other people get some premium quality time at the top of the food chain.

14:27That being said, he is still who he is.

14:30He's top merchandise seller for WWE.

14:32So I have no problem with him being at the top of this list.

14:34And let's be honest, Cody's got one of the best movesets in wrestling.

14:37He's a very skilled worker.

14:39So this is good for him.

14:41But coming in at number one, and I keep mentioning the people who are not in the top 10.

14:45Some may surprise you.

14:47Swerve Strickland kind of surprised me.

14:48Seth Rollins kind of surprises me.

14:50You have Trick Williams at number eight, but no Seth Rollins and no Swerve Strickland.

14:56I'm just saying.

14:56That being said, number one for this year, PWI top 500, MJF.

15:02Two AEW World Championship wins this year.

15:05Main events of multiple pay-per-views.

15:07MJF, one of the best talkers in the business and has easily become one of the best in-ring performers

15:13in this business.

15:14And has had killer matches with just about everybody in the AEW roster, which is kind of concerning if you

15:20ask me.

15:20Because at some point, you're going to just keep getting repetitive matches and you need to do something with him

15:24that's fresh and new.

15:26Maybe that's new signees you bring in and try to really elevate.

15:29But at the end of the day, it is hard to argue with MJF coming in at number one in

15:33the PWI top 500.

15:36And I'm sure he's going to lean into this character on AEW Dynamite and Collision.

15:41He's going to talk it up.

15:42He's going to use that as part of his shtick to maybe use that as justification for another World Championship

15:47opportunity at some point.

15:48We'll have to wait and see.

15:49But this was an interesting top 500 list.

15:52You need to check it out.

15:53Go to Pro Wrestling Illustrated's website.

15:55You can see the full list.

15:57Great stuff.

15:57And pick up their magazine.

15:59Like, honestly, their magazine is good stuff.

16:00The only hard part about their magazine is because it takes time to print and get on shelves,

16:04there's a little delay between the printing date and when you actually see it on the shelf.

16:08So when you open up the back, my favorite thing has always been to go to the back of the

16:11magazine.

16:11And look at the rankings.

16:13All the companies, all the championships, all the divisions, all that stuff.

16:17And then you look at it and go, wait, this guy lost this championship months ago.

16:21Well, it's because it takes time.

16:22It really does.

16:23Print media is just not as fast as the internet.

16:25But you should definitely check out the PWI top 500.

16:28Very solid list.

16:29Put something in the comments.

16:31Tell me if you agree with their top 10 list.

16:33Is there somebody they're missing that they should have considered putting in there?

16:35Is there somebody who's in there who really needs to not be on the top 10 list?

16:40If you got those conversations, I'd love to hear them.

16:42Or, like I said earlier, pop them into the Forresting Sound Offline.

16:45I'll be happy to address those in a future episode.

16:47For now, that's all the time we have for this episode.

16:49Check back with us next episode.

16:50We run down the latest wrestling news and rumors.

16:52Special thanks, as always, goes out to Suno for creating the music and sound effects we use in our show.

16:56If you want to bring a new friend to Family Game Night, it's easy.

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17:27All three of these are available at thegamecrafter.com.

17:30Grab your copies today.

17:32And look, you guys have been playing the same games your whole life.

17:34The Parcheesi, the Monopoly, Chess Checkers, Dealing the Cards, Yahtzee, Pop-A-Lot-O-Trouble on the Pop-O-Matic

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17:48Again, Sketchy People, Banani Market, Legendary Elements.

17:51If you need some help considering your next career move, maybe you're thinking about college, university life,

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17:58go to my website at frolifeplanning.com for all your higher education needs

18:03as FroLife Educational Planning is for today, for tomorrow, and for life with FroLife.

18:08I'm Fred Froelich, better known as Dr. Fro.

18:10I want to thank you so much for taking some time with us today.

18:12Until next time, take care, everybody.

18:14Have a great night.

18:24We'll see you next time.

19:01We'll see you next time.

19:19We'll see you next time.

New Netflix Raw Demands - WWE Crown Jewel Concerns Grow - PWI 500 Announced

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