Busted Open vs. Notsam: Who Is The Most "Influential" Wrestler | Fight Nation 

I love this debate format! We need more of notsam vs busted open please.

This was such a great back and forth. I could watch and listen to these 2 go back and forth about pro wrestling all day.

Cool to see my 2 favorite marks do a show together. Hope we get more in the future

More of this please, this was such a good debate and the dynamic between you two is great

More Sam vs. Dave at least once a month. Tremendous listen today 🎶 Time to start a new sequel, finish this story!

We absolutely need more of these. You guys are the best.

The Point/Counterpoint here is spectacular. 2 longtime fans, discussing a Story/Match and Not 💩-ing on each other. Need to see More "Sam & Dave" Episodes. 🤘🤘

It’s exciting that this WM has so, so many scenarios where anything can happen.

you are right that its a lil more unpredictable an i been watching almost as long dave an can pick a lot of spots so this is awesome that there is some cliffhangers, leaving you to only guess what happens next, awesome story telling, good job to all of them

Totally agree Dave! He started the Revolution! People forget the Bullet Club rally outside of the WWE show and then All In, AEW, and then his return and this story!

Great discussion. Would love to see more of this.

Remember Dusty Rhodes lost to Ric Flair at back to back Starrcade's 84 and 85.

Enjoy both podcasts

This was a great conversation to watch!

Loved this...do it more often!!

Of the last 10 years, Cody is in with a real shout. You've got a good call for Danielson too, for Roman, arguably for HHH now as he presides over the product, for better or worse, you have to include Omega and The Bucks too, and a handful of other names I'm sure. What sets Cody apart is that there's so many individual aspects that contribute to his influence. - Leaving a job for life on his own terms - Being the son of one of the greats and trying to forge his own name and legacy - As with the tagline, going from undesirable to undeniable, ie a mid-card for life to a main-eventer - Touring the indys and being successful everywhere - Bridging the gap and befriending the forbidden unspoken talent - Bullet Club and The Elite - Being a big part in the formation of what is considered the biggest competition WWE has had in 20 years - Having a wrestling school that brought so many people into said company and the wider wrestling world - Being credited as a guy that helped people backstage and was well liked - Proving that not only is there a route to AEW, but there is a route back (obviously Drew beat him to this, but Drew didn't get the welcome back that Cody did) and you can return bigger than you left if you play your cards right and they believe in you. - As accidental as it was - the pec injury was so good in retrospect for putting over Cody's toughness and funnelling into the next point... - Proving that there is still such a thing as an out-and-out babyface that EVERYONE can cheer for. - Re-establishing the idea of a back-to-back Rumble winner - Creating a bridge from AEW to WWE for prospective talent like Jade, possibly Shawn Spears and who know in the future. I'll stop there but I would honestly have to side with David on 'most influential of the last 10 years'.

This was a brilliant podcast fellas!

This was a great HONEST AND GREAT conversation between two wrestling fans and honest analysts There needs to be more of this Also. This will be a DQ finish on both sides LOL. This has been a great 2 year story

This was great. Maybe you could do one again before Mania with your predictions

" This was by far " the best episode of busted open ' I have seen ; I did not want it to end .. it was so good . 🔥💥💥🎯

The argument with Cody doesn’t hold up though because we have no way of proving where he would be if he HAD won the title. So you can’t say he’s better off for losing because there’s no outcome where he won to compare it to

Nice interview

Great conversation and by listening to this I’m ok with either scenario

Awesome back & forth. My only thoughts are that since sams rule is that “everything counts.” Cody has said his story is now beating Roman. He has also said it has to be at mania. Rock & Roman said if cody loses he can NEVER challenge Roman for the title again. Plus do we really think they will end Roman’s streak anywhere but the biggest stage of them all? It’s gotta be mania, one way or another.

It's easy. CM Punk. He broke the mold. Shattered the glass ceiling. Being an independent guy, he proved that wrestling shouldn't be in this one box.

This was so entertaining

sam has to be the biggest roman glazer of all time holy shit

Sit back and be worked. It makes wrestling even better.

I agree with Dave that the Bloodline story has been the best story WWE has had going in a decade, but Cody has been the most influential wrestler of the past decade because of everything he's done beyond WWE and the people that have followed in his footsteps. How many times have you seen that GIF of Cody cupping his ear at the end of the hallway? Dude was making moves and as Dave said, creating the blueprint.

Bold statement by Dave.

Absolutely love bust it open. Totally freaking rocks.

I love Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan. Stone cold sold more shirts. Does Hogan count the red and yellow or nWo shirts aswell. Cause I've seen way more nWo shirts in public than any thing else.

The Bloodline is an incredibly hot story but I think there’s an argument to be made that without Cody, there is no Bloodline. AEW being formed forced WWE to step its game up. Look at where we were before AEW as compared to after. In 2018, the best story we got was Styles/Nakamura and even that barely went anywhere. Since the conception of AEW, WWE has been forced to step up creatively to hold onto its market share and because of that we get stories like the Bloodline and the Damage Ctrl saga.

I think the NEXT story for Cody is validating his championship. And this can go on for a long time. He needs to prove his ring work: GUNTHER; he needs to prove his abilities against Luchadors: Escobar; he needs to prove himself against some one hardcore: bring up Dijak or Joe Gacy; prove his legacy: Randy Orton; a program with former Bullet Club leaders: AJ, Finn, Cody… …he has a lot of work cut out for him after he wins the title.

Kofi and daniel bryan stories are way more compelling

18:48 - AND IF CODY LOSES AT WM40, THE STORY BECOMES GODFATHER III!!!!! You are LITERALLY making my argument for me

17:13 - 17:26 - Which is WHY this year is different than last year. Last year people WANTED Cody to win, but it wasn't best for business. This year people NEED Cody to win, and it IS best for business. Who's gonna challenge Cody? First, Randy Orton. During Cody's title celebration on the Raw or SD after WM, Randy comes out, celebrates and then BOOM, RKO outta nowhere. Then whomever doesn't win between Seth & Drew can challenge. Then Punk. And we're already at the Rumble. Cody is finishing the Story

Its super easy to keep the story going after Mania...

great show

haven’t been this fired up for wrestlin since i was a wee little boy

more not sam vs busted open we love this

A buddy and I have been discussing different scenarios and the one we both could agree on is what if Cody wins and Damien Priest crashes in and beats Cody and it keeps his story going because it's similar to How Dusty won the title only for it to be taken away quickly.. But who knows what creative comes up with..

This Bloodline story has taken me back to my childhood! My first house show was with Flair/Dusty as the main event! Fast forward to now, this whole angle with Roman/Cody is a nod to Flair and Dusty! Think about how many times Flair cheated to be Dusty, and how big the payoff was when Dusty finally won! Cody doesn't have to win at Mania to finish the story and it mean something!

I LOVE those movies

For me it's less "Cody has to win the Championship at WrestleMania" but more "Roman losing the championship should be at WrestleMania at this point"

16:25 Whenever Cody wins that title, I think the company will actually get behind the idea of him bringing back the winged eagle belt. Maybe they'll make it into a different variation of it for this era.

DAVE LE MARK "KING OF THE MARKS"

16:55 can you imagine it ends in a “no contest” & Roman retains by default 😂 people would RIOT 😂

How dare you disrespect our Must See WWE Champion and his Historic Win at Wrestlemania 27. (In all seriousness that video package before the Miz came out was epic)

Has Dave took that jacket off once since the rock came back

Seth Rollins is a detriment to this entire storyline. Rock is TOTALLY right when he calls him a walking clown emoji. This tag match is 3 megastars and Seth. It's a shame(although it's deserved) that Brock is banned because he would have been the perfect partner for Cody. He's an equal as far as star power and he's connected to EVERYONE in the story. He beat Rock for his first title, his history with Reigns speaks for itself, there's no Lesnar without Heyman and he feuded and then gave Cody his seal of approval. Oh well, all of that means nothing now lol. As far as Cody at WM 39 vs WM 40, this is DEFINITELY better because Cody was just gifted that main event. The 30 slot at the Rumble made the whole thing a farce. This time, he's gone through alot of shit and earned his way there.

*ok so i want to say some thing i love the last 10 min view i didnt like the back and forth shot but i feel like night one cody and seth will win the tag and then go in to night 2 with a shocking who the hell is this moment due to the "bloodline ban from ringside" that they want to go with*

I love the psychology of this discussion. Either outcome of Wrestlemania will draw fans to the WWE. Here’s my take: Now with the Rock on the board of Endeavor, you’re looking at the new Mr McMahon character. Since the press conference, Rock has emphasized that he is in charge. He is the boss. Rock has even used part of his power towards Triple H; make this right. I can see a scenario where Cody and Seth win at night one. Night two, free of the Bloodline, there can be a twist. I can see a moment where Rock strips the title off of Cody, puts it back on Roman. Rock can make a stipulation where Cody can NEVER face Roman again. (Maybe Royal Rumble, going in at number 1). There can also be a power struggle between Rock and HHH. Each picking their champion, and taking the WWE to the next stage/era. Sorry, Dave. I love Cody too. I WANT and will cry to see Cody winning the belt. I can also see Roman taking his Reigns towards more a legendary status. Love the show. Thanks for this discussion Sam and Dave.

WWE is doing big things and because of that we are seeing a better AEW program. Wrestling as a whole is doing really well. I'm seeing more highschool indi type of shows pop as well just like the days of old.

Isn’t it great how WWE isn’t predictable anymore post McMahon era.

I agree with NotSam. If you finish the story you lose more than you gain. I’m a huge Cody fan. But they have to have a finish to this story where the fans still cheer for Cody and Roman can still be at the top. And it just doesn’t feel like a big Cody win does that.

After 39 I couldn't believe it

A toots mondt reference lol

Drew did what cody did before Cody lol

Before watching, I feel like Petey Williams and Amazing Red have to be in the conversation

Im hoping for a double turn at Mania. Seth turns on Cody, but Cody still wins after Rock turns on Roman (splitting the Bloodline in half). So now we have camp Cody vs Mega Heel Seth and Bloodline vs Bloodline.

1 the rock 2 shawn micheals 3 Ric Flair 4 Steve Austin 5 hulk hogan

Cody's character can survive, but the set up for his next feud has to start at Mania, and he has to make us believe he doesn't even care about the title anymore because he's so pissed off. I think Roman's character needs that title. Also, if Cody beats Roman, a Rock/Roman match doesn't mean nearly as much because Roman would have finally lost.

Funny story.... All that happened on MY SiriusXM app 4pm yesterday was the replay from yesterday's show, which I had already listened to at that point. So I'm confused, when/how did this air on FightNation Channel 156 SiriusXM? I STAYED tuned in until 8pm CST. This show DID NOT air on MY SiriusXM app yesterday. Did it for everyone else? I thought you advertised for this show to air at 4pm. I tried, but there was nothing on Channel 156, nothing on the NotSam Wrestling channel, nothing on the Busted Open channel (on the SiriusXM app). Then today I see at least the video is posted on RU-vid so that's great I DO get to consume it somehow. I've got to admit, I'm NOT a fan of the new app. If I get a phone call and accidentally or purposely close the app, when I open it back up I have to either start the show back over, or try my best to find the place where I left off. Why doesn't it hold your place where you last left off? The old app did that very well. Anyways, was jw what happened yesterday, I assume it was the app but I'm not sure.

Sam has a bad memory, in 90' some fans were booing Hulk but he was still more popular than anyone today is, also he left the company and had a successful face run in WCW and eventually turned heel 6 years after Mania 6 in 90'

If it's all time it has to be Austin. Brock Undertaker Michaels and the rest were all around during the war They couldn't turn the tide. Austin put that company on his back. And his influence was everywhere. Every kid loved and wanted to be like Stone Cold. Maybe not the best influence but an influence is was. #1 in merch today after a white hot CM Punk and a white hot Rock returned The most prolific moneymaker in the history of wrestling as Cody Rhodes put it.

"charm" isn't exactly the word i would use for it...

Roman wins clean with his submission move 😮 imagine ?

This idea that we will "never get the chance to beat Hogan again" is sooo stupid. No one thought we would ever even get close again. Yet here we are. FFS Cody could hold it long enough to beat Hogan too. Remember, Hogan's record was just under a decade after Backlund. No reason you couldn't have Cody hold it for years too.

I've been watching wrestling since the 60s but mostly from early 70s on

I've been saying that I have this feeling that Seth will turn on Cody, and Roman with the Rock and will get a brotherhood shield type of reunion. We might see the knuckles touch again! That will give Roman a longer run, a build up to Rock vs Roman and restarts this whole Cody and Seth. Cody gets screwed but in a different way and will also have the Rock and Cody major face run. It's not Cody's time, not yet!

Sam's point about Randy-Cody being under Roman-Rock is a good one. If Cod wins the strap, I think Roman and Rock need to go away for a few months and let the spotlight be on Drew and Cody

Not for nothing there was a reason why Brock gave cody the co-sign and put him over after the match

Sam... If Cody loses again, he loses all credibility. If he wins Roman becomes the attraction. I'm not a Roman hater but Roman has been on top far longer than he should have been we have so many more stories to tell with better talent. Including the most talented man on the roster that needs to beat the record for most titles.... Randy Orton. We also need the new CENA and that is Cody. He can lose it and get it back many times and the legend and company will grow.

Yes the bloodline has been the most influential storyline but Cody’s the most influential wrestler.looking back The bloodline was hella successful Pre Cody’s return but there were alot of markets where the live events weren’t hitting. The house show averages went up when Cody came back I remembered that. He started that return to confidence of a bunch of lapsed fans. The house show numbers when he was injured went down a bit but wwe then got hot with Sami. The rumble return of Cody his merch was sold out . The Monday same thing the live events highest ever record breaking markets. We can’t attribute that to the bloodline bc the only change in that factor was cody. That momentum is largely what brought this feeling along with the story telling of the bloodline it’s both. But I cannot being honest act like oh if Cody didn’t come back when he did say oh it’s solely the bloodline bc they were on fire in some markets but there were a lot that they were Luke warm in and Cody made that huge difference.

There's a few you can bring up immediately, Danielson comes to mind. Punk, Austin, Flair, Joe, Cena, unfortunately Hogan can be a part of that conversation.

I feel like the rock was supposed to face roman this year have roman break hogan's record and then cody wins it next year

"Hogan was the last good guy that got the bad guys booed" Eh? As a Roddy Piper fan I say you're wrong there.

I still don’t understand why the booking NEEDS RR with the title. It’s now back to the title making the guy. Which is good. But now let’s see Roman work a program without it. With someone who’s not a mega star or HOF Like cena or rock. Have him work a grudge with zayn, or cm punk, or any other guy who’s not on his level. Let’s see him carry a match.

Whomever started the Bullet Club.

Here’s what will probably happen. Keep Roman off TV for a while. Rock vs Cody at Summerslam for the WWE title. Roman comes out, turns on Rock, and goes babyface. This sets up Rock vs Roman at Mania 41. Cody could go in a few directions after that. I say he ends up facing CM Punk at wrestlemania 41 for the WWE title.

If you ask The Rock he would call Dave a fruit booty Rudy Pooh 😭🤣

Can we PLEASE stop sleeping on what Drew McIntyre did in his time away from WWE? He is the BLUEPRINT on how to reinvent yourself and then return! Cody took it to a new level, but Drew deserves recognition too.

It is absolutely wild that Sam can say something - unironically - like "Now is a good time to be associated with WWE" in the midst of Vince being exposed and multiple longtime WWE executives being implicated. I don't think he's wrong, either. It's just a telling state of affairs. Good for WWE. Maybe a little questionable in some ways.

Notsam seems to be the only one I know who likes Roman reigns. Yeah he’s got one of the longest reigns but the least amount of defends and 90% of wins are bloodline interference. As a casual fan I don’t see Roman as this great wrestler I see Roman as the guy WWE booked to have this reign and nothing more. I think podcasters dissect just a little too much

Hmm, what if Cody and Seth win on Night 1 and Cody is on the verge of winning the WWE Championship but Tama Tonga debuts, interferes and Roman remains the WWE Champion to break Hogan's record BUT, they really need to call his Championship the "WWE Championship" to solidify it! The Rock can then call out Roman for needing his family (because he refers Haku as Uncle) to retain and is not worthy of being the Tribal Chief and asserts himself as The High Chief over the Bloodline.

So Cody has made the AEW for the past 2 years? So everyone on the roster can just sit down and wait their turn! Forget The Bloodline, Sami, Seth, Charlotte, Bayley and so many. I got Sirius because of Howard and now hooked on Busted Open. Hardly listen to Howard and looking like I'm going to cacel Sirius because od what I heard now. Sam and Jim Norton are awesome and might hear more of them now.

U guys are forgetting about the rest of the roster u have heel aj u have Logan Paul u have Damion priest

BUSTED OPEN VS NOTSAM BOOK IT

Cody needs to win this as the only other way he can do it is win money in the bank but doing that the only way he cash in is by turning heel as if he wins as baby by cash in it will feel he hasnt earned it

But my dad never took me to wrestling I watched it on TV I've only went to 3 live events

Where does Senoir Mr Money in The Bank come in.? It's got to be about time to cash it in?? Who's it going to be?

You two are siskel and ebert

If You’re argument is that Cody has no where to go after winning the title, I pose this question to you… Who is left for Roman? He has defeated nearly every worthy adversary there is… and if your answer is The Rock just think about this… in a Rock v. Roman feud the Universal title means little to nothing. In fact it would distract us from the true storyline there. Anyone else Roman could go on to face would feel unworthy. Roman needs this tragedy more than Cody. His character is growing stale and predictable at the top. It’s time for him to reach catharsis.

Mark Faulkstein!!!!!

The Rock lost to Stone called at WM15 AND WM17 and then finally beat him at WM19. Cody will be just fine.

Dave cody came in to the wwe while businesses was good . Was gon for 6 months while businesses kept booming if roman ans gunther werent on top . This is a different STORY

44:02

@bustedopenpodcast picture if Brock Lesbar comes back WM40 and helps Cody

“Bloodline is the greatest story”… *NWO enters the chat