The Bill Simmons Podcast
An NBA Six-Pack, Netflix’s WBD Pursuit, NFL Picks, and John Cena Finally Stops By, With Joe House and Matt Belloni
05 Dec 2025
Chapter 1: What is discussed at the start of this section?
The Bill Simmons Podcast brought to you by the Ringer Podcast Network. I have a new Rewatchables coming for you on Monday, hopefully. We are recording it tomorrow. There's a special guest. I don't want to jinx it and tell you what movie it is, but I will tweet it from the Rewatchables account tomorrow after we record, after I know we've recorded it. But it's going to be a fun one.
I'm excited about it. I am recording the intro for a very long podcast. It's, what time is it? 8.46 Pacific time. PT, I wanted to wait until after. Lions-Cowboys, because this Cowboys renaissance was so much fun. Who knows? They'd won today. They would have had a chance to put some real heat on the Eagles. Of course they lost. They couldn't stop the Lions.
The Lions offense just did whatever it wanted. Dallas is now 6-6-1. They're not out of the playoffs. It's not looking great. They would have to sweep home Vikings, home Chargers, at Washington on Christmas at Giants to finish 10-6-1. I think the ship that has sailed is the NFC East because the Eagles are 8-4. At the Chargers this weekend, House and I are about to do Ringer 107 picks.
We both think the Eagles can beat the Chargers. They're home for the Raiders, a home and home with Washington and at Buffalo. So it just feels like Philly's going to get to...
probably 11 and six somehow so the ship has sailed for dallas except for wild card but they just lost to one of the teams that they would have been competing for the wild card so this might have been it it would have been fun one of the reasons i want to wait for the intro because if dallas did beat detroit tonight and i actually thought they were going to hang cd lamb got a concussion um you know fairly early in the game which which uh didn't help them but
It would have been funny if they won this one because there would have been a real... Maybe Jerry Jones was the smart guy all along case. But that ship has sailed too. And probably Dallas' playoff hopes have also sailed. So for big picture, I think we have... probably know who eight of the seven playoff teams are.
If we go Ram, Chicago, Seattle, Philly, Green Bay, San Francisco, Tampa, and Detroit, that's probably the list barring a collapse from somebody. So somebody is going to get bounced. We'll see what happens. It still might be Detroit. That was a must win for them tonight, three and five. So we'll see how it goes. They play at the Rams next week, which will have ramifications all over the place.
Anyway, Um, on the podcast today, house and I are going to talk some basketball at the top, and then we're going to do ringer one Oh seven picks. Matt Bellany comes on next because we want to talk about this Warner brothers sale. And then last but not least, John Cena. Finally, first time I've ever had him on my old pod on this pod.
First time we've ever had John Cena and we go for a hundred minutes and he came to the studio. And I had a great time. So I got to update the Bellany part really quickly, which I still think holds because we talked about all the possibilities, all the ramifications. But we recorded it six hours ago. And Bloomberg...
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Chapter 2: What are the implications of the Dallas Cowboys' playoff chances?
Lucas Shaw, our friend, and Michelle F. Davis reported that Warner Brothers has entered exclusive negotiations to sell its film and TV studios and HBO Max streaming service to Netflix, according to people familiar with the discussion. So that means Over the next few days, this could play out. They could agree on a price. And then we will see what happens. Will the government block it?
Will Paramount sue? Will Paramount, I don't know, can they try a hostile takeover while this is happening? Who knows? But this is the biggest, biggest, biggest, biggest media story we've had in the entertainment world, I think, this decade. If Netflix, who hasn't bought anything, finally buys Warner Brothers and gets all of their assets. So Matt and I talked about all the angles.
That's coming up. So it's house, basketball, and football. Melanie talking about the Warner Brothers sale. And then John Cena. This is an absolute megapod. It's really good. It's all next. We're gonna take a break. And then. This episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast is presented by State Farm. Having insurance isn't the same as having State Farm.
It's like expecting a linebacker on the football field, but getting a line cook. Sure, they both can handle the pressure when it starts heating up, but only one is stopping a touchdown. You wouldn't settle for just anything for your team, so don't settle for just any insurance when it comes to getting help you need. State Farm is the real deal. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
We're kicking things off with a special part of today's episode brought to you by Michelob Ultra. As the official beer partner of the NBA, they know the best moments on or off the court are served cold. So let's crack open a six pack as we dig into the most buzzworthy moments of the season so far. And also a little NBA cup. as well, and we'll talk about the superior play of the day.
So Joe House is here. We're going to talk football picks a little bit later, but I wanted to keep you on so I could have somebody to throw off some NBA opinions. We're going to do six opinions. You like beer. I don't know if the beer is going to throw you off. Look at it. Looks nice and cold and tasty. Six beers in there. I like that beer. Six things. I want to start here.
And we could make this the superior play of this Michelob Ultra six pack that we're doing. Shea Gilgis Alexander. Very boring to talk about. Won the title last year, won the MVP, scores 33 points a game. He's an assassin. His facial expression never changes. Not that fun of a topic. Not a lot to say. Not a lot of places to go.
House, as we record this on Thursday afternoon Pacific time, Shea is averaging 32.8 points a game in 33.6 minutes. He's almost a point a game. To put this in perspective, the per 36 guys in history who have been over 35 points a game, Do you think Michael Jordan is on this list? I do. He is not. Wow. Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-62, his 50-point season, 37.36. Giannis this year, 35.78.
Just got hurt again. James Harden in 2019, 35.38. And then Shea playing no fourth quarters, basically. He's missed 11 already. I think he's missed half of the season in the fourth quarter at 35.12. He's shooting 55%, 44% from three, 88% free throws. He's been 20 a night for almost 100 games. The record's 126. That's a record I actually care about. It's so fucking hard to score 20 a night.
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Chapter 3: What is the significance of the upcoming Warner Bros. Discovery sale?
You were just like jumping into it.
The market's like, oh, it's 10 and a half. Like, even though the game was only four points, it was like, here, you know, they have to win by 10 and a half. That's... Because I wanted some OKC. I was like, golly, man. Can't get any breaks.
Because the thing is, he... They're going to win so many games this year and there's a million reasons for it. And they're like a perfectly constructed team and they're young and they're hungry. And they even have, it seemed like they have a little edge from them, even from last year to like show like, not only are we the champs, we're laying the smack down this year.
But the Shea piece, I've personally watched it swing five games. They're like, oh, they're going to lose today. And Shea's like, no, we're actually not going to lose. I'm going to make every shot right now. And that's going to be it. So I'm starting the six pack with him. We'll go to Giannis really quickly. Talked with Max Kellerman on Tuesday. This is second for the six pack.
Talked to Max Kellerman about favorite Giannis destinations. And my favorite was Atlanta, just from a trade package standpoint. Before I tell you a mystery suitor, do you have a favorite Giannis trade destination? Because this really heated up last 48 hours. He did get hurt, but he's going to be back in a couple weeks.
I think Houston would be incredible. I think that the combination of youth and, you know, the KD, you know, last hurrah kind of vibe here. So what are you giving up? I'm not sure. Are you putting Shangoon in that? Some Tari Eason, maybe. You're still getting Giannis? No, no, no. It's a big package. It's a big package.
It's a big package. So it's like a Reed Shepard, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason. You're just trying to patch contracts together until you can get near the Giannis number. I'm just hanging up unless Shangoon's in it.
Okay. That's fair enough.
If I'm the Bucks, I'm like, we're not just... Taking a shitty trade. Two different people mentioned this to me in the last 24 hours. I just wanted to mention this team. And it chills my bones. The heat of Miami. Two different scenarios.
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Chapter 4: What are the NFL picks for the upcoming games?
Eagles minus 2.5 against the Chargers. We like when the Eagles are on the road because then they're not home with their fans booing them and yelling swear words at them. And then last but not least, we can never find a fifth pick we feel great about. So we're going to have to default to two in relatively cold weather, 40 degrees maybe. Going against the Jets, plus three at home.
The Red Hot Jets have won three of their last five. Tyrod Taylor, the number one special teams DBOA.
Nick Folk, give that man a ball.
Give him a game ball. This team, all they do is win games. Sort of. That's our Ringer 107. And all lines are subject to change on FanDuel Sportsbook. All right, that was fun. We're due for like a 4-1 or a 5-0.
Chapter 5: What Thanksgiving food stories are shared?
Maybe it'll be this week, thanks to the Jets. Before we go, I wanted to give you a Thanksgiving story. I'm here. I forgot to talk about food. Did you have a good Thanksgiving, by the way?
Did you eat too much? Thank you. Yes, incredible. Got to see family. Went down to Raleigh, North Carolina. Speaking of great food scenes, Crawford Brothers, new establishment from the Crawford Empire. Excellent. Incredible Wagyu steak. Incredible. Wagyu.
Wagyu. So had Thanksgiving, had like nine people over, had a bunch of stuff. My mom made her baked beans. Our friend Sissy made her cornbread. I don't even, cornbread, like casserole type thing. Oh. It just was like old school. I don't know how much butter was in it, but it was in a casserole dish. Yeah, it was a long casserole dish with cornbread.
It almost tasted like cornbread, but more like mashed potato-y kind of cornbread.
Oh, I'm imagining it. Yeah, you would have loved it. Incredible.
My mom's baked beans were out of control and also great for the intestines over the next couple of days. Thanks to her.
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Chapter 6: What are the key points about wrestling and retirement?
We had the sweet potato casserole. Awesome. Had that. We had all kinds of stuff. Turkey, obviously, cranberry sauce, but all these sides. We had so many sides that my wife never brought out the mashed potatoes. Oh my gosh. And we realized after the dinner that the mashed potatoes never came out because there was so much food. The mashed potatoes just got a DMP out of nowhere. It happens.
They were just in the fridge. Yeah. There was cream spinach. We had all these things. We had so much stuff that mashed potatoes never made it. And my wife was like really upset about it because she's like, how do you not have mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving? I can't believe that. And I was like, A, nobody noticed. B, we were fine. But she really felt like that was the one thing you had to have.
We also had two different versions of stuffing. Forgot to mention that. I was like, no, people don't notice stuffing, not mashed potatoes.
You know how much I adore your wife. She didn't miss the mashed potatoes. Right. She also forgot. She didn't even know they weren't there. She feels like they're an elemental part. And yet she also forgot. Like that's, you know, that tells the whole story.
Well, this leads me to my point. Mashed potatoes, overrated?
Yeah.
Nine people eating Thanksgiving dinner, not even realizing that mashed potatoes weren't out there.
Well, I don't know how crucial mashed potatoes are to a Thanksgiving spread. I just go ahead and say that because of all the other ways you can. You just described like six side dishes that are each in their own unique way. Mind blowing. You can have. And by the way, mashed potatoes a couple of days after. Awesome. Incredible.
You can make mashed potatoes with scrambled eggs and they have the effect of making the eggs as light and fluffy if you can get the ratio right. And then you get some of that, some of the Momofuku chili crisp and put it with the mashed potato egg. In fact, I... Go on Dinner Time Live and ask Chef Chang to make you mashed potato scrambled eggs and get some of that chili crisp.
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Chapter 7: What themes of jealousy and rivalry are explored in wrestling?
Take a second to yourself. Figure out why we're fighting. I went on my bus and scoured the web to try to find out anything this guy's ever said. Just anything. A sentence. Never speaks bad about anybody. Yeah. So then I came back to him. And like literally after two and a half hours, he was finally like, okay, this is AJ. This isn't Alan.
But maybe AJ's thinking that if you were never around, I would be where you're at and I'd be so much better because when in that ring, I am better. I'm like, we got it. And we built our story, culminating with even the match at the Royal Rumble, with I, AJ, am a better in-ring performer. You are charismatic, but hella lucky.
You put these two in a ring together and I will run circles around you every time. And that's where audiences are like, your son would be like, hell no, that's my guy. Anybody that watched TNA would be like, our guy's finally getting a shot. This dude's awesome. Wait till he can do his stuff. And now you're divided and now you're interested.
And that's an issue that you can run with, but you have to sit and ask, why are we fighting?
We just tapped into the most important word in the history of wrestling, jealousy. It's been like 80% of the rivalries, right?
I think it's because it's something that people understand. Yeah. Those stories have to come from a place... redemption, jealousy, anger. Why you and not me.
Whatever it is. It should have been me is great.
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Chapter 8: How did John Cena's relationship with Vince McMahon shape his career?
It always works.
You stole this from me.
They did that with Hogan all through the 80s. It was Paul Orndorff was the first one. It was great. And then Macho Man was the best of all of them.
It's an emotion we all have. We all can understand. And I think that's why it's like I want to be the champion. I never rest at that. That's never good enough. There has to be something more. And when you have that, it's great. Like anytime you have on the mic, if you ever get lost, you know where you are because I'm supposed to feel jealous of you. Anytime in a match, you know how to act.
If you are jealous or if you finally are cresting that hill and now you feel confident, how do you act? How do you move? What do you think the audience will believe? The answers to these questions aren't perfectly placed, but man, they're easier to come by. So instead of being like, we'll do stunt after stunt after stunt, you can build this thing.
You know, just going back to AJ, where he completely, in the beginning of those matches, out-wrestled the hell out of me. And I was out of my place. We told the story of, I'm going to be better than you, and then you are, and my world is crumbling. And then finally, I start... doing a little of my stuff, which is more of, is more like throwing ham bones. Yeah.
But then I start hitting him with like my best stuff and he kicks out and I'm like, who the, who is this kid? Why won't he go down? Yeah. And maybe he's right. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe my world is crumbling. Those are just by saying, I think this is why we're fighting. You can dig into so much. And I know this. A lot of performers don't do that.
Because I'll always, in a post-mortem sense, if I watch matches, I'll watch and be like, okay, you did this and this. Why were you guys fighting? What do you mean? They told, we got, we were on the main event. We went out there for a match. Yeah. Okay, cool. All right. And again, I'm not saying that someone who doesn't ask or answer that question cannot be successful.
But if you know the story, think of sports. Some games a lot of people watch. Yeah. And some games they just don't. There's games on all the time. Games of everything on all the time. But if there's a rivalry or if there's meaning, like college sports.
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