WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long and his co-host Mac Davis offered a critical assessment of the recent Survivor Series: WarGames event during the latest episode of Road Trip After Hours. The duo specifically targeted a moment during the Men’s WarGames match involving Jey Uso and the crowd participation chant, “YEET”.
Davis described the scene where the babyface team had incapacitated their opponents and were waiting for the final entrant, Brock Lesnar. Instead of maintaining the tension or preparing for the next fight, Jey Uso’s music played, and the team engaged in a dance break with the crowd.
“For the first time ever that I have seen any type of a War Games match, they started Jey Uso’s music again so we could do a Teet for the next couple of minutes before Brock came out,” Davis said. “They forgot they had anybody on the ground. They just started getting the fans along with the Yeet in the middle of a war games match”.
Davis called the booking decision a “complete idiotic mistake” that insulted him as a fan. “You’re going to stop in the middle of it and dance from the top of the cage and in the turnbuckles with the fans while the guys you’re supposed to be wrestling are getting the chance to get their breath back,” he argued.
Teddy Long agreed with the sentiment, suggesting that WWE’s current creative direction lacks coherence. “I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of stuff that has been happening with them, and none of it has really made any sense,” Long stated.
Long attributed the issues to an oversaturation of the product. “I just think that they’re just got, they got so much, it’s just too much wrestling, and they’re trying to do something with everybody, and you can’t do that. You got to get a select number of people that you’re going to feature,” Long explained.
Disconnect with the Fanbase
Long went further in his critique, suggesting a deeper issue with how WWE currently views its audience. He expressed concern that the company might be taking its fanbase for granted due to its massive financial success.
“I really kind of think a little bit there. I think right now, there’s not a whole lot of concern for the fans,” Long observed. “It just just like that…They don’t exist anymore. Well, we gonna make it, whether you guys support us or not. No, you will not make it if you don’t have fan support”.
He advised the company to “settle down a little bit and kind of think some of these things out before they do them,” believing the product would come across better with more focused booking.
John Cena’s Final Match
The conversation shifted to John Cena’s upcoming retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Davis expressed frustration that with only days remaining before the event, Cena’s final opponent had not yet been determined, with Gunther and LA Knight scheduled to wrestle for the spot on the upcoming Raw. (Note: On Friday, Gunther defeated Knight on SmackDown)
“There’s no build up. There’s no heat. He doesn’t know who it’s going to be. There’s no big time feel to his last match,” Davis complained.
Long offered a veteran’s perspective, suggesting that Cena is simply being a professional on his way out. “I think Cena knows what time it is, so just take whoever they put you in there with. Man, do whatever needs to be done, and you’re out. He can’t change what’s happening,” Long said.
He also noted that in the old days of the business, promotions would sometimes “bury” talent on their way out the door, and while current talent might not recognize it, he sees parallels. “I see it, and a lot of guys that it’s happening to, like Cena, he sees it, so you understand, I think he knows he’s doing the right thing,” Long stated.
Long speculated that if the previous regime were in charge, the send-off would feel different. “If it was Vince in charge, he would have the biggest send off you have ever seen in your life… He would make it mean something,” Long opined.
Does the Opponent Matter?
Both hosts felt the match outcome at SNME would do little to elevate Cena’s opponent (Gunther) if Cena wins.
“It doesn’t do anything for them because they’re not beating him,” Long argued. “If they were going over on him, then you know what? I mean, that would certainly help them, but them by coming in, you know, and putting them over towards last match that doesn’t they, doesn’t do anything”.
Davis concluded that the match seems designed purely as a “feel good moment” for Cena to have his hand raised one last time, rendering the story and opponent meaningless.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Road Trip After Hours with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can watch the full show on the Road Trip After Hours YouTube channel.
