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Cody Rhodes Teases Being a Heyman Guy, Sami Goes Full Villain | Notsam Wrestling 618

Notsam Wrestling1h 13m

Sam Roberts discusses major WWE storylines including Cody Rhodes potentially becoming a Paul Heyman guy after teasing the catchphrase "that's not a prediction, that's a spoiler," analyzes Sami Zayn's full heel turn by attacking Kevin Owens with the WWE Championship, and explores the symbolism of Jacob Fatu's resentment toward the Usos receiving elevated Ula Falas.

Summary

In this episode of Not Sam Wrestling, Sam Roberts covers several major WWE developments from recent SmackDown and Raw broadcasts. The primary focus is Cody Rhodes' interaction with Randy Orton, where Cody delivers the line "that's not a prediction, that's a spoiler" while discussing becoming the one who kills the legend killer. Roberts speculates extensively about whether this signals a potential heel turn for Cody and, more specifically, whether he could become a Paul Heyman guy. He argues that if Cody were to turn heel, pairing him with Paul Heyman would be the most effective way to do so, as it would elevate both characters and create a more compelling villain than simply having Cody commit acts of violence. Roberts theorizes a scenario where Cody loses to Randy at Sunday Night's Main Event, then aligns with Heyman on the following SmackDown, creating storyline opportunities with Braun Breaker and Bronson Reed.

Roberts analyzes the Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk WWE Championship match in Toronto, where Sami Zayn's interference leads to CM Punk retaining the title. He emphasizes that Sami Zayn has fully committed to being a heel by hitting Kevin Owens with the championship belt when Kevin refused to use the belt himself, directly contradicting the ruthless Kevin Owens of the past. Roberts notes that CM Punk has won all his recent matches through interference, never cleanly since returning, and argues that CM Punk is operating as a heel champion despite not being positioned as such. The crowd in Toronto strongly favored Kevin Owens, highlighting the shift in fan perspective.

Regarding the Bloodline segment on Monday Night Raw, Roberts explains the significance of Jacob Fatu's reaction to the Usos receiving black Ula Falas and captain promotions. He clarifies that not all Ula Falas are equal in symbolism: Roman's red Ula Fala represents the tribal chief, Jacob's unpainted one signified acceptance into the family, and the Usos' black ones represent a promotion to captains with special authority. Roberts argues Jacob is frustrated because Roman rewarded the Usos for calling their own plays and achieving results, but then criticized Jacob when he did the same thing by attacking LA Knight, demonstrating what Roberts calls "malicious compliance." Jacob stood idle later when Roman needed him, highlighting the hypocrisy Jacob perceived.

Roberts also discusses Blake Monroe's main roster debut, where she attacks Julia immediately without a formal match, positioning her as a savage threat. He explains her statement that she's not debuting "like this" signals she wants a championship match, not a standard debut. He addresses comparisons to other stretched debuts and notes that under the current regime, there appears to be more care in building storylines. Additionally, Roberts mentions Shinsuke Nakamura's announcement of Hiromu Takahashi as his new tag team partner under the name Kiyoki, and notes Ilia Dragunov's apparent departure from WWE after being moved to the alumni section.

About this episode

<p>Sam Roberts talks about Cody Rhodes teasing a Paul Heyman connection against Randy Orton on Smackdown, Sami Zayn costing Kevin Owens his title match against CM Punk, Jacob Fatu being mad at Roman Reigns, Blake Monroe's lack of debut, and, of course, answers emails</p><p><br /></p><p>To get a Sam Roberts figure - you can order this WWE set from Amazon - notsam.com/figure</p><p>- -</p><p><br /></p><p>Subscribe to the show YouTube page at YouTube.com/NotsamWrestling</p><p><br /></p><p>For even more content- become a Notsam Shill on Patreon- Patreon.com/notsamwrestling</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

Key Insights

  • Roberts argues that Cody Rhodes lost the WWE Championship metaphorically like a helium balloon slipping away, with each failed opportunity moving the title further out of reach, explaining why Cody has shifted focus away from championship pursuit.
  • Sam contends that all of Cody's greatest accomplishments came while being a good guy, contradicting opponent claims that being good prevents championship success, as evidenced by three title reigns and beating Roman Reigns.
  • Roberts asserts that CM Punk has not won a single match cleanly since returning to WWE and has not won a championship match cleanly as WWE champion, establishing a pattern of relying on interference that defines his current reign.
  • Sam argues that Jacob Fatu's unpainted Ula Fala and the Usos' black painted Ula Falas carry different symbolic weight, with Jacob's signifying basic family membership while the Usos' represent a promotion to captains with authority over other members.
  • Roberts claims Jacob Fatu was practicing malicious compliance by standing idle when Roman needed him later in the segment, directly responding to the perceived hypocrisy that Roman rewarded the Usos for independent action but punished Jacob for the same behavior.
  • Sam posits that if Paul Heyman were to manage Cody Rhodes, it would transform a heel turn from merely committing violence into an ideological shift, making aligning with the devil more villainous than any physical act.
  • Roberts suggests that Sami Zayn's decision to hit Kevin Owens with the championship belt after Kevin refused to do so marks his complete commitment to being a full-fledged heel, as Toronto booed him heavily for this action.
  • Sam argues that the crowd dynamics in Toronto reveal Kevin Owens was the clear babyface favorite, with 18,000 people having purchased tickets specifically to see him win the championship, making his loss more impactful.
  • Roberts contends that the good guy criticism of Cody Rhodes reflects real-life fan backlash rather than character development, noting that fans focus on where Cody is now rather than the journey that got him there.
  • Sam claims that multiple characters—Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, John Cena, and Kevin Owens—are actively pointing out perceived weaknesses in Cody's game to explain why they, not Cody, deserve to be champion.
  • Roberts asserts that Blake Monroe's statement about not debuting "like this" signals a deliberate strategy to establish her as a dangerous threat first before showcasing her glamorous presentation, reversing the typical NXT-to-main-roster trajectory.
  • Sam argues that Damian Priest should eventually turn on R-Truth as a heel character because Priest holds people to higher standards and would find Truth's antics frustrating, similar to his earlier criticism of Cody Rhodes for being in the main event consistently.

Topics

Cody Rhodes potential Paul Heyman alignment and heel turnCM Punk's dirty championship retentions and heel positioningSami Zayn's full heel turn and interference in Kevin Owens matchBloodline dynamics and Jacob Fatu's resentment of Usos promotionUla Fala symbolism and hierarchy within the BloodlineBlake Monroe's aggressive main roster debut strategyRandy Orton's motivation for 15th championshipKevin Owens' refusal to use championship belt dishonorablyCody Rhodes' struggle with being perceived as too goodToronto crowd reaction and Kevin Owens fan support

Transcript

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