Episode 131 begins with a review of the Labor Day installment of Monday Night Raw. There were many questions about what went down the preceding week on Raw that saw Kevin Owens emerge as the new Universal Champion. Unfortunately, there were not many answers. But we did get the word that at Clash of Champions, Seth Rollins would be facing Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship, with the possibility of a third man being added to that match. On Raw though, Seth Rollins would face Chris Jericho while the new Universal Champ would square off against his long time rival, Sami Zayn, in the Main Event. Charlotte took on Bayley with the specter of Sasha Banks having to deliver some “bad news” later on in the evening. Sheamus looked to go up 3-0 against Ceasro in their best-of-seven series while we saw a major upset take place in the Tag Team Division. We have all the details for you here on Episode 131.
On Smackdown, the go-home show for Backlash was less than stellar. A six-woman Tag Team match took place with all six women involved in Backlash’s Six Pack Elimination Challenge for the Smackdown Women’s Championship involved. The Tag Team Championship Tournament continued with The Usos going up against American Alpha in one match and The Hype Bros taking on the team of Rhyno and Heath Slater in the other Semi-Final. One of these baby-face teams would turn heel by the end of the night and reshape the landscape of the Tag Team Championship Tournament. The Miz took on Apollo Crews while AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose had a face to face confrontation just days before their match for the WWE World Championship at Backlash. We let you know all the specifics here on Episode 131.
We then are joined by 2Chambz, D-Wayne, and Cellus from the Big Gold Belt Podcast to preview Backlash ’16. It is the first of the brand specific PPVs we have had yet and we predict how it all will go down. Who will walk out of Backlash as the first ever Smackdown Tag Team Champions and the first ever Smackdown Women’s Champ? Will Bray Wyatt conquer Randy Orton? Will Dolph Ziggler end The Miz’s Intercontinental Championship reign? And will AJ Styles prove he is truly the Face That Runs The Place or will Dean Ambrose retain the WWE World Championship? We discuss all that plus we talk about CM Punk, Asuka, and Raw as well in a fantastic and far reaching preview that fans of both shows will absolutely enjoy.
Speaking of CM Punk, Dave offers up his thoughts on CM Punk’s UFC debut, a one-sided, 134 second defeat at the hands of Mickey Gall. Where does Punk go from here and, more importantly, where should he go.
All this and more here on Episode 131