RAW moved. SmackDown played it safe. And we’re tired of safe.

This week on Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down the real issue heading into Elimination Chamber — momentum.

Why did RAW feel like it understood WrestleMania season… while SmackDown felt like it was protecting the board?

We dig into:

• The Cody vs Jacob qualifier finish — and why it may have flattened the Chamber’s unpredictability.
• Whether Drew’s interference helped anyone… or made him look ineffective.
• Why Lash Legend’s Rumble momentum might already be leaking.
• The Women’s Chamber field — and who’s noticeably missing.
• Jade Cargill: Champion… or protected project?
• Rey Fenix feeling undefined during the most important stretch of the year.
• And the real story behind Finn vs Punk — because the result isn’t the suspense… Dom is.

Plus, we preview RAW 2/16 and break down the Gunther qualifier with one big question:

If Cody feels inevitable… what is the Chamber actually allowed to change?

WrestleMania season should feel dangerous.

Right now?

It feels safe.

And we’re not letting that slide.

🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Amazon Music 📲 Follow & debate with Alexande the Great on X and TikTok: @Froe87 💬 Join the Discord for live PLE watch-alongs and weekly chaos!

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00:00Welcome to Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling

01:37WrestleMania Season Insights

03:35The Dangers of Playing It Safe

04:37Bitching About Wrestling

05:36Becky vs AJ: A New Dynamic

07:29Liv Morgan and Stephanie: Building Tension

09:41Finn Balor vs CM Punk: The Stakes

11:31Javon Evans: The Future Star

13:36LA Knight and the Elimination Chamber

15:30Jade Cargill: Champion or Protected Project

52:43Surgery Surprises and WrestleMania Matchups

55:47The Dilemma of Rey Fenix's Role

59:38The Feud of OG Americano and El Grande Americano

01:03:42Elimination Chamber Qualifiers and Predictability

01:09:29Dave Metzler's Overrated List and Its Implications

01:24:34Raw Preview: CM Punk and Women's Qualifiers

01:36:27Gunther's Future and Booking Decisions

The Royal Rumble is over, and WrestleMania season is officially underway.

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down the immediate fallout from the Royal Rumble and the first week of television that followed. Rather than recapping results, this episode focuses on direction — who feels elevated, where momentum continued, and where WWE may already be hesitating as the road to WrestleMania takes shape.

We look at how RAW and SmackDown handled the post-Rumble reset, what decisions felt intentional, and which storylines still feel unfinished heading into Elimination Chamber. From title pictures to rising stars, this is a big-picture conversation about belief, consistency, and follow-through.

Because WrestleMania season isn’t about reactions — it’s about what WWE chooses to build once the moment passes.

🎙️ Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

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Alexander the Great X & TikTok @froe87

00:00Braun Breaker's Injury: Fact or Fiction?

07:47WWE's Direction Post-Rumble

17:00Oba Femi's Debut and Future

35:08Gunther's Vicious Return

38:10The Rise of the Career Killer

39:34Building Up the Monster Heels

44:40The Art of Selling a Match

51:39SmackDown's Missed Opportunities

01:01:34The Future of Women's Championships

01:08:33The Importance of Character Development

The Royal Rumble is over — and the fallout is already reshaping WrestleMania season.

On this episode of Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling, we break down everything that actually mattered coming out of the 2026 Royal Rumble. From a Women’s Rumble that struggled early but delivered big in the final stretch, to Liv Morgan punching her ticket to WrestleMania, to AJ Styles wrestling his final WWE match, this episode focuses on direction, momentum, and long-term consequences.

We also dive deep into the Men’s Royal Rumble — what worked, what raised eyebrows, and why one decision may end up defining the entire road to WrestleMania. Roman Reigns wins the Rumble, but the bigger conversation centers around Gunther: his dominant run, the legends he’s retired, and why this might have been the perfect moment to fully commit to him as WWE’s next unstoppable monster.

This isn’t a recap show. It’s a fallout episode.

Because when the Royal Rumble ends, the noise disappears — and the real stories begin.

🎙️ Turnbuckle Talk Wrestling Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Chapters

00:00 Royal Rumble Recap and Fallout

07:52 Women's Rumble Highlights and Controversies

14:49 AJ Styles vs. Gunther: A Retirement Match

29:06 Men's Rumble: Surprises and Eliminations

49:27 Gunther's Missed Opportunity

01:12:56 Final Thoughts on the Rumble and WrestleMania Season