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Chapter 1: What is the significance of Raj Dhesi's debut on Busted Open?
Welcome to the Busted Open Podcast. This is Dave LaGreca. On today's episode, it is the debut episode of Raj Desi. That's right. Formerly known as Jinder Mahal. And he gives some great takes. One on Obafemi. The other on Unreal. All that right now on the Busted Open Podcast. This is the Busted Open Podcast. Somebody who's obviously we've been talking a lot about here on Busted Open. is Obafemi.
Obafemi, we thought, retired Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania and gets a win over Brock Lesnar and then now just took a loss from Brock Lesnar. And I actually think in that loss, that's just going to make Obafemi bigger to the WWE Universe. Your thoughts on Obafemi and what they're doing with Obafemi right now.
I love Obafemi, man. When I was in NXT two years ago, Obafemi had just started training. And I remember Terry Taylor telling me that this kid has a very, very bright future. And at that time, I didn't see it. But as he evolved, as he progressed, as he grew into himself as a superstar, wow, I am completely blown away. Now, I'm gonna make a little bit of a controversial statement.
wrestling actual in-ring wrestling is one of the least most interesting parts of the wrestling business of a wrestler i'm all about the aura the showmanship and the story so obviously oba that that entrance it reminds me of alex pajera's entrance in ufc where he does the march and then he points the arrow and releases it and the crowd goes crazy The Oba march, wow.
That march is going to transcend wrestling. It's going to be in pop culture, if it isn't already. It's just so catchy and super cool, especially when he does it. It's one of those viral things where people can film themselves doing it. It's a way of interacting with fans and building that connection. Now, the physicality, incredible.
Really, really tremendous athlete, strong, agile, fast, highly coachable.
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Chapter 2: How did Obafemi's recent match with Brock Lesnar impact his career?
I could already tell that. I don't know that personally, but the short time that he's been wrestling, his understanding far exceeds where he should be compared to others that I've seen. He's been in the pressure cooker against Brock Lesnar, held his own, was confident as ever. And I really thought that was Brock's last match. Meaning Brock was just going to make a Brock Lesnar decision.
I'm sure his contract, and this is, I don't have any knowledge of this. I think he did have time on his contract, which has been reported and documented. I don't know if it's documented, it's been reported. I have a feeling Brock just made a game time decision. You know what? This is it. This is me passing the torch at WrestleMania, much like how Undertaker did it for Brock with the streak.
Now things change. Maybe the checkbook came out, I'm not sure. But I really think Brock was going to retire. Now Brock just beat Oba in Italy. I was actually in Butlins about to wrestle and that match was on the television and I had called it Brock's gonna win. So they can get a third match, so they can get a fourth match, a fifth match. How many times have Roman and Brock wrestled? Several.
Yeah, and on the biggest stage called WrestleMania. Exactly.
I see a similar path for Oba and Brock because there is not that many superstars that can have that sort of long-term program with Brock Lesnar. You have to have the physicality. You have to be the foil for Brock Lesnar. Roman did it, and I think Oba is the next guy to do it. I see a bright future. The thing that I want to see most from Oba... is more of his personality, more of his struggle.
I'm a story guy.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of WWE Unreal on Netflix?
I wanna know about his journey from Nigeria to coming to America. I believe he was a shot putter in college. Tell me about that journey. Tell me what it was like growing up. Bring some personal elements into it. And I think it is gonna be brought out in due time. I think that's the piece of the puzzle that's missing, that true connection.
The physicality is there, the look is there, the aura is there. The promo is there. I love the promo. The promo reminds me of, was it Black Panther, the Marvel movie? Yes. He reminds me of a Black Panther character in his mannerisms, the way he talks, in his outfit. Something unique. What are your thoughts, Dave? Tell me how you feel.
All right, listen. First of all, you're opening up my eyes to a lot of things because when you talked about Brock and then you're talking about the series that Roman and Brock had together and where that went, who's to say? I think when it comes to Brock Lesnar, Raj, we're always looking at, all right, this is the last time we're going to see Brock. This is the last time we're going to see Brock.
Brock's going to go away for a while. I think that's always our mindset when it comes to Brock Lesnar. And now that he's back, we thought he retired. He didn't retire. Who's to say that it's ending at SummerSlam? Maybe it's not ending at SummerSlam because they're in a very unique position, Raj, because right now Obafemi is in this King of the Ring tournament.
The winner of the King of the Ring tournament goes on and faces champion of his choice at SummerSlam. Who's to say Obafemi... There has been no third match announced between Obafemi and Brock Lesnar. I mean, I think people are assuming we're getting it... at SummerSlam, but if Obafemi goes on to win this tournament, he's facing a champion at SummerSlam.
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Chapter 4: How does Raj Dhesi view the evolution of wrestling storytelling?
He's not facing Brock Lesnar. So I could see, going by what you just said, Obafemi wins the King of the Ring tournament, goes on to SummerSlam and faces the champion of his choice, whoever it is. He wins the championship. Obafemi's your new champion. Brock Lesnar's music hits, and Brock Lesnar comes out, and then you start that series again between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi.
And now it's for the WWE Championship. I'm not saying that's what's going to happen, but with what we're seeing play out in front of us, that very well could happen.
Yeah, I'd agree. I'd agree. I also agree that... SummerSlam is likely not Brock's last match. I think he's going to go beyond then. I could see a WrestleMania possibly being a last match for Brock Lesnar, but not SummerSlam. And I love that idea of Oba becoming champion, WWE champion. I also see an alternative path where Brock costs Oba
King of the Ring tournament, they wrestle at SummerSlam, but it's not their last match. They run it back again all the way even to WrestleMania.
It's when, and you just talked about the passing of the torch, and we've seen that a lot. You mentioned Brock beating Undertaker and ending that streak. We saw it with Cody Rhodes beating John Cena at SummerSlam. Those moments that are a passing of the torch moment. I think you're right. There's nobody on the WWE roster right now that's the caliber of Brock Lesnar.
So when that moment happens and there's that passing of the torch moment, you have to know that this guy is your guy. Whenever that happens. When Brock passes the torch to Oba, now Oba's that guy. Oba is now the main event guy in the WWE. You said it earlier too, Raj. When you look at the WWE superstar, it ages upward. I mean, you know, Oba has all the tools.
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Chapter 5: What role does personal struggle play in a wrestler's connection with fans?
He's only been on the main roster for a short while. He's young. He's hungry. But he's also a star. You mentioned that strut. I could see in this next NFL season...
a wide receiver catching a touchdown and in the end zone doing the oba strut like it's gonna it's gonna it's gonna transcend into pop culture so knowing all that raj you got to make sure that the story you tell is perfect because oba's future is at stake when it comes to this story yeah definitely i could also see brock's last match at wrestlemania
Following a path where Oba does become king of the ring, does become champion. Where's WrestleMania? Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia.
Who does Saudi Arabia love? Which wrestler? Brock Lesnar. Anytime there's a Saudi Arabia show, who goes? Brock Lesnar. Who's in a main match? Brock Lesnar. In my opinion, Saudi Arabia, are what WWE fans here in America were possibly 10, 20 years ago. They wanna see larger than life superstars. Again, controversial statement, matches don't really mean much to them.
Yes, it has to have a certain degree of quality, 100%, but the story is gonna be more important. So let's say this, Oba becomes WWE champion or world champion. Brock challenges him for a title, Oba tells him, my title, your career. Now we go into WrestleMania already knowing this could be Brock's last match. I think that would really sell that match.
And then that would be the right time for Brock to, Walk away.
At some point, Brock is going to walk away.
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Chapter 6: How does the current wrestling landscape differ from the Attitude Era?
But we've seen before WrestleMania. Was it WrestleMania? That was in the WrestleMania in New Orleans. WrestleMania. I think it was WrestleMania 34. We all thought there was going to be one outcome because we thought Brock was going away then. And it didn't happen.
So that could be the same scenario where we always look at like, all right, Brock's going away, but maybe Brock, like you said, maybe Brock isn't going away. I think everybody's just targeting SummerSlam, but maybe it goes beyond that.
And I think you're one of the first people, Raj, that has brought this up because I think a lot of people are just looking at the expiration date ends at SummerSlam. That's not necessarily the case.
I think that Saudi checkbook comes out for WrestleMania. Yeah.
And they're going to need ā listen, they're going to ā listen, listen. Them being in Saudi, it's going to ā I think it's known. It's just going to be a bit of a disconnect. It's the first time WrestleMania is going to be outside of the States. This is them showing once again that the WWE is this worldwide product.
But you're going to have to sell a lot of their fan base that won't be able to go to WrestleMania, won't be able to travel to WrestleMania. So next year's WrestleMania, it's going to have to be, like you said, superstar-driven, storyline-driven, a big show to make sure that those fans don't feel disconnected to it.
And there's one guy, there's probably only one guy on the roster that could do that, and that's Brock Lesnar.
Definitely. I... Wouldn't be shocked if Rock wrestles too. Saudi checkbook comes out. What do you think? Is it possible?
Listen, the fan, the nation knows how I feel about The Rock. Him and I are like this. We're tight, The Rock and I. Very, very close.
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Chapter 7: What are the potential future storylines involving Obafemi and Brock Lesnar?
Coming up next, more of our conversation on Unreal. Your one-stop shop for R-A-S-S-L-I and that's wrestling. Pro Wrestling Nation, 24-7, channel 156. Was there a wrestler in particular for you that you had the best chemistry with in the ring?
Of course, yeah, chemistry makes matches. My favorite type of wrestler is a high-flying babyface, just as a bigger heel. more of a meat and potatoes type of heel. I love wrestling high flying baby faces and baby faces who can sell. Now there's an art to selling. The best sellers to me, they make the crowd feel the pain. They make eye contact with the fans. They bring them into the match.
Those fans forget that this is entertainment. They get lost in it. Suspending disbelief. Those are my favorite types of baby faces. Rey Mysterio. I would say Rey Mysterio is my favorite. Obviously, I grew up watching him. An icon in the business. Such a great role model. But even at this age to this day, he can still go. Unlike anybody else. And Just that connection with the fans is so unique.
Now, Rey's never been someone who's been known to cut promos. He wrestles with a mask. I mean, you can't see his facial expressions, but that connection with the fans is unlike anything I've ever seen. Another great babyface, in my opinion, one of the greatest natural babyfaces in the history of wrestling. I had the honor of wrestling him a couple times, Jeff Hardy.
Chapter 8: How is WWE integrating pop culture into its branding strategy?
The connection that he has with fans, I don't know what it is. Something very, very special. Now, I don't know if the fans see themselves in Jeff or he's just such a unique person, such an enigma. I don't know what it is, but Jeff is incredible. And again, doing it to the highest level to this day.
You know, it's funny you said that. And as you're explaining Jeff Hardy, it brought me back to this DVD I had. I don't even remember the year that it came out. It's well over 10 years ago. They had a DVD on Jeff Hardy. I think it came out right around the time he became champion. So you're going a ways back.
And they asked like 10 different fans, what was it about Jeff Hardy that ā why they loved him as much as they did. And you got 10 different answers. Like you said, there's ā like you may not even be able to put your finger on it. There's ā Jeff is one of those guys that ā I don't know what it is.
You know, it's, I don't know if it's about that, the mystique about Jeff Hardy or his, his, the way he wrestles or like you said, he grew up a fan and, and this is like a dream come like, but every fan have had a different answer on why they love Jeff Hardy. It's just something about that guy. He's one of the most unique individuals I've ever seen as a wrestling fan.
100% as well as his personal struggles are well documented.
Yes. And that's part of it. Everything that he's overcame. That's part of it.
Yeah, that's a big part of it. That's what I was meaning about Oba. Share that story. I want to know your struggles. I want to see you go through something and come out of it and come back even stronger and better than before and not letting it define you. That's the connection that I want to see from Oba. If Oba can tap into that, 100%, he is the pinnacle. He is the top guy.
And Raj, you got to be able to take those walls around you and knock them down. You got to leave yourself pretty vulnerable. To be able to do that to like, you know, some sometimes you got to go to a dark place, like in the case of Jeff Hardy, he had to go to a dark place. You know, his his struggles were well documented, his struggles.
We actually saw, you know, go back to the match that he had with Sting in TNA, where he just was not fit to step into that ring and have a match with Sting. But you got to be able to be vulnerable enough to say, hey, I made mistakes and let the audience in on that struggle and that personal conflict that you have.
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