The Turnbuckle Debate #227

Explicit content warning

04/21/25 • 58 min

Our guests this week are Scott from Going Ringside and Austin from Pro Wrestling Central! Join us as we ask is WrestleMania more about the spectacle than the actual product; did Vader make a mistake going to work for Vince McMahon; and what is the strongest booked mid-card championship in professional wrestling? It's going to be a fun week here at The Tavern, so to make sure you do not miss anything, go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

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undefined - AEW Dynamite: Spring Break Thru: The Opps Defeat Death Riders For Trios Championships | Josh Alexander Is All Elite | FTR Attack Tony Schiavone

AEW Dynamite: Spring Break Thru: The Opps Defeat Death Riders For Trios Championships | Josh Alexander Is All Elite | FTR Attack Tony Schiavone

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from The Two Bad Chads! This week we talk AEW and all the happenings of the week! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

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Wrestling Tonight: WRESTLEMANIA 41 RECAP | WWE ACQUIRES AAA | AEW RUNNING ARENA MEXICO

On this week’s Wrestling Tonight, we’re diving into all the drama, surprises, and seismic moments from an unforgettable WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas. John Cena etched his name in the history books by defeating Cody Rhodes to become a 17-time world champion—surpassing Ric Flair’s storied record. While undeniably historic, the match left fans divided: a legacy-defining moment for Cena, yet a puzzling conclusion to Rhodes’ reign.

And the WrestleMania headlines didn’t stop in the ring. WWE officially announced its acquisition of Lucha Libre AAA, setting the stage for a “Worlds Collide” event with NXT this June. Triple H described it as a chance to elevate lucha libre on a global scale, though many are waiting to see how this merger will affect AAA’s creative identity and independence.

While WWE was making headlines, AEW delivered one of its strongest weeks of the year. Jon Moxley laid down a challenge to Samoa Joe, Nick Wayne captured the ROH TV Title, Josh Alexander made his surprise debut by joining the Don Callis Family, and Forbidden Door was announced for London’s iconic O2 Arena.

Back at WrestleMania, Jey Uso shocked the world by forcing Gunther to tap out in the opening match, and in the Night One main event, Paul Heyman dramatically aligned with Seth Rollins, who pinned Roman Reigns in a chaotic triple threat. Standout performances came from IYO SKY, Dominik Mysterio, and Drew McIntyre, while Night Two delivered a mix of highs and lows—an ongoing conversation on this week’s show.

Beyond the matches, the week was filled with headline-making moments. WWE President Nick Khan defended the company’s “underdog” mentality. John Cena reflected on his relationship with Vince McMahon. CM Punk discussed WWE’s push for a new five-year contract. And Roman Reigns opened up about his future in the ring.

We also cover Sabu’s emotional and brutal retirement match at Spring Break, Brodie Lee Jr.’s in-ring debut, and key developments from the WWE ID and NXT tournaments. With major movement across WWE, AEW, TNA, and NJPW, there’s no shortage of stories to unpack.

It’s been a week of milestones, power moves, and turning points—and Wrestling Tonight is here to guide you through it all.

Follow us on social @turnbuckletavern, support the show on Patreon for just $2.99/month, and until next week—stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.