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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of WWE WrestlePalooza on ESPN and internationally on Netflix!
They aired a long video showing the history and connection between sports and entertainment.
The Countdown Show features Michael Cole, the returning Wade Barrett and Big E. Cole thanked the fans for allowing WWE to get to the point they are now on ESPN. They introduced Tyrese Haliburton as the fourth man on the panel.
They discussed Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena and Brock's attack on Corey Graves.
Petet Rosenberg was with the crowd, including a few fans holding oversized tickets to the event, putting over Indy was a Cena city and the crowd was behind him tonight.
They noted Triple H, Drew McIntyre, CM Punk and AJ Lee will be appearing on the Kickoff show.
Lots of ESPN promotional spots.
They aired a video package on Usos vs. The Vision. They showed the two teams running into each other backstage, where they began shoving the other. Security pulled them apart as Adam Pearce looked exasperated.
They moved discussion to CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins.
Adam Pearce announced LA Knight will be the guest referee for The Usos vs. The Vision. Knight said he doesn't want to be the referee and doesn't care about any of them except maybe Jimmy. He said he's here to let them fight until someone gives up.
They aired a video feature on sports and pop culture figures in WWE. They discusses great college athletes who moved into pro wrestling. Ron Simmons was put over huge. They talked about Rob Gronkowski They showed footage of him on Stephanie McMahon's podcast.
They aired a video package on Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes. They showed the excellent Drew McIntyre sit-down interview with Cathy Kelley.
The Miz joined the panel. He claimed everyone turned their back on Drew when he lost the title. Barrett agreed with him. Miz said the ending of the story tonight is Drew winning.
They showed footage of ESPN, WWE and The Indiana Sports Corp visiting patients at a local hospital.
Paul Levesque joined the panel. He was asked what 25 year old HHH and tell him WWE would be on ESPN. He said he didn't think it would have been possible. You've seen WWE or their personalities involved but to be as integrated as The NFL and other properties are is amazing. All sports are entertainment he said. Someone in crowd yelled "Suck it." Great timing guy. HHH said no one does big events like WWE.
On the return of AJ Lee, HHH said that lucky us, all they had to do was have someone slap the hell out of CM Punk. When you have someone like her who has had such an impact and influence on so many, he can't wait to see her back. She doesn't look like she's missed a beat based on her training footage he's seen.
HHH was asked about today's roster and whether they could challenge the '02-03 roster. HHH said there are so many who have broken through and others who are getting there. He named Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Ethan Page and others as the future. He said there is no stopping this roster and it will be on fire for years to come.
Big E asked about the change in culture with talent who most thought might never come back. He said he and Nick Khan approach things differently. It took a special person to grind the way they did back in the day and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. it's a lesser workload now but that opens things up to a demand via scarcity. There isn't a day that goes by from someone who says they either want to come in or come home. They want to explore WWE and the Performance Center. The opportunities the company has with broadcast partners open the doors for talents to want to come and be at the top of the mountain. He wants the best to prove they are the best here.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Stephanie Vaquer. She is nervous a little but nerves are sometimes good. They are going to make history with WWE and ESPN. She makes history with the most important match of her career and she will be champion.
They aired a video feature on CM Punk's tattoos.
They aired a Corey Graves sit-down interview with CM Punk and AJ Lee. Lee said returning is surreal. It was important to return to Chicago because that's where she won her first title. Punk said WWE is a wildly different place from when he and Lee were here in the past. Selfishly, he wanted her to see that. He likes to brag about his wife and she raised a generation of wrestlers. Unfortunately for Becky, she's back. Lee said that the state of the women's division makes her feel like this is all she ever wanted, even if it made one person's career better. To see it happen and be in the locker room with her wrestling daughters feel like the sprinkles on her cupcakes. Punk said that he doesn't think the rivalry with Seth Rollins will ever end. Luckily, it means Punk gets to now have his best friend beside him. When his life was at its darkest, there she was. He can tag out to her when he's in trouble. Lee said she might be a little nervous, but that's what courage is - diving in head-first.
Stephanie McMahon joined the panel. She, Miz, Jackie Redmond and Tyrese Haliburton all bantered about the show.
They went to Michael Cole and then to do a video piece on Cole becoming the voice of WWE on ESPN. It was really well done.
In the ring, Joe Tessitore welcomed Michael Cole to ESPN. He said Michael's voice will be welcomed and it's important its his voice. He said ESPN and WWE are together and this makes WWE part of the mainstream talk with sports fans. Sports takes the best elements of WWE.
They ran down the Tale of the Tape for Brock vs. Cena and then aired a video package on the bout.
They closed the broadcast with different personalities taking fans through the path the talents will take from backstage to gorilla to the entrance to the ring.
The War & Treaty sang God bless America.
WrestlePalooza coverage on Page 2!
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