In this episode of The Experience (477), hosts Drew, Justin, and RJ discuss their midyear awards for 2026 and preview upcoming wrestling events for the weekend. The discussion covers various categories, reflecting on the current state of professional wrestling across multiple promotions.Midyear Award Highlights (4:20 - 1:31:08):Best TV Show: The group overwhelmingly chooses AAA (Triple A) for its concise, story-driven, and easy-to-follow format (6:51 - 9:55).Best Moment: The hosts highlight the El Grande Americano vs. Grande Americano mask vs. mask match entrances and the subsequent unmasking (11:21 - 14:26).Comeback of the Year: While Paige's return to WWE is noted (14:45), RJ highlights Shane Haste's return to Pro Wrestling Noah and his championship win (15:28).Feud of the Year: The El Grande Americano vs. Grande Americano rivalry is praised for its emotional weight and storytelling (18:05 - 19:18).Best PLE/Pay-Per-View: AEW Double or Nothing is cited as the best event of the year so far (25:44 - 26:10).Heel of the Year: RJ selects Techla for her impactful work, while others express frustration with corporate management decisions regarding ticket prices (1:07:18 - 1:08:12).Weekend Preview (1:33:41 - 1:52:36):The hosts preview King and Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia, predicting Jey Uso will win the tournament with potential interference from Brock Lesnar (1:34:00 - 1:35:48).They briefly touch upon the upcoming NXT Great American Bash, Forbidden Door, and Slammiversary events, noting that the sheer number of shows makes for a packed weekend (1:52:42 - 1:53:50).The episode concludes with the hosts sharing their social media handles and plugs for their respective projects, emphasizing their shared passion for the fun side of wrestling (1:57:35 - 1:58:34).

Topics discussed so far:Summer season: The hosts debate when summer officially begins, whether it's the start of June or later in the month (2:14-2:43).Justin's Birthday: Drew and Ruben acknowledge that Justin's birthday is the following day (2:46-2:55).Birthday Traditions: The conversation shifts to cake preferences, specifically discussing tres leches cake, various cultural styles, and preferences for ice cream brands like Häagen-Dazs over others (3:20-7:15).Travel and Costs: The hosts share anecdotes about their experiences in New York and Brooklyn, reflecting on the high cost of living and the convenience of local food, such as dollar pizza slices (8:11-10:20).Complicity and Corporate Culture: The hosts discuss the nature of the allegations against Vince McMahon, emphasizing that while his behavior is widely viewed as inappropriate, they also reflect on the role of those who participated in or were aware of the environment while financial benefits were still present (1:09:00-1:11:40).The Future of WWE Leadership: The discussion shifts to whether there is any possibility of Vince McMahon returning to a leadership role. The hosts conclude this is unlikely, noting that Triple H is currently overseeing a period where the company is financially more successful than it has been in the past, making a return to previous management styles less attractive to investors (1:11:43-1:12:48).Potential for Future Sales: The group speculates on the future business moves for TKO Group, suggesting that with the company currently in debt, they might eventually look to sell to entities with significant capital, such as potential investors from Saudi Arabia (1:18:03-1:20:36).Reflections on Life and Loss: Later in the show, the tone shifts as the hosts share personal reflections on the transience of life, sparked by the news of several public figures and content creators passing away. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing health and striving to make a positive impact on the world around them (1:23:32-1:29:59).

• MASK VS MASK: MATCH OF THE YEAR?
• HOW HAS LUDWIG MADE THIS WORK?
• ITALY PLE
• ROMAN HASN'T EVOLVED
• AND MORE...

• SATURDAY NIGHTS MAIN EVENT RESULTS
• JUSTIN REVIEWS DOUBLE OR NOTHING
• OUR PICKS FOR WRESTLERS OF THE WEEK
• MASON ROOK
• LUDWIG KAISER SITUATION
• PREDICTIONS FOR TRIPLE A AND ITALY PLES'
• POSSIBLE WWE RETURNS
• AND MORE...

• MASON ROOK GETTING A LOT OF LOVE

• TRIPLE A IS THE BEST THING GOING

• SNME PREDICTIONS

• DOUBLE OR NOTHING PREDICTIONS

• AND MORE....

In this episode of The Experience, hosts Drew, Justin, and Ruben discuss several major developments in the wrestling world, primarily focusing on industry shifts and recent departures. Due to a schedule conflict with a Spurs game, this is a condensed episode.Key Topics Discussed:Passing of Ted Turner (2:01 - 11:20): The hosts pay tribute to the media mogul and WCW founder, highlighting his pivotal role in the Monday Night Wars and his influence on sports and entertainment broadcasting. They also share their personal WCW "Mount Rushmore" picks, including names like Sting, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Booker T.WWE Roster Departures (11:42 - 38:00): The panel reacts to recent mass releases from WWE. They discuss the shock of seeing talents like Kairi Sane and Alistair Black released, and debate the "civil war" narrative between Triple H, Nick Khan, and TKO. They express frustration with the current creative direction and the perceived devaluing of talent.The New Day Departure (20:16 - 31:36): A significant portion of the show is dedicated to the departure of Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston from WWE. The hosts discuss how the group's momentum stalled following Big E's injury and speculate on the future of these stars.Other Departures (32:37 - 38:00): The hosts touch on the release of Jeff Cobb and Tangaloa from the Bloodline/MFTs storyline, noting that they weren't surprised given the current creative handling of the group.Backlash 2026 Predictions (39:41 - 47:20): The hosts provide quick predictions for the upcoming Backlash event, including:Seth Rollins vs. Braun Breaker (leaning toward Braun Breaker).Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn (leaning toward Trick).Io Sky vs. Asuka (leaning toward Io).The Miz/Kit Wilson vs. Dan Hen/Partner (speculating CM Punk as the partner).Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu (leaning toward Roman Reigns).Closing Remarks (47:40 - 50:46): The episode concludes with well-wishes to Rebel regarding her health and information on where to find the hosts' other content on the Experience Network.

WWE Roster Releases [05:33]:The hosts discuss the "yearly releases" that occurred on a Friday following WrestleMania.Alba Fire is highlighted as a significant release; the hosts express that while she is talented, she wasn't given a "fair shake" on the main roster [07:42].They discuss the transition from the "Vince Era" to the "TKO Era," noting that roster cuts are now often driven by budget directives from TKO leadership rather than just creative decisions [08:57].NBA Playoffs & San Antonio Spurs [02:46]:As Spurs fans, the hosts celebrate the team winning their first playoff series in nine years against the Trailblazers [02:53].They debate the upcoming matchup against either the Timberwolves or the Nuggets, with Justin expressing a preference for playing the Nuggets to face the challenge of Nikola Jokić directly [03:44].They also mention Victor Wembanyama's impact and his mindset regarding challenges [04:12].Personal Updates & Financials [01:44]:Drew shares a personal update regarding his health (recovering from a cold) and his financial situation, jokingly remarking that "being broke is probably worse than bad credit" [02:21].Closing & Promotions [01:59:06]:Justin promotes his business, Spine Bushes, where viewers can buy wrestling merchandise, action figures, and title belts at the Wonderland of the Americas or online [01:59:13].

Key highlights and discussions include:

WrestleMania Overview: The hosts break down the two-night event, noting it felt like a "showcase of commercials" (1:17:43-1:18:29) rather than just a wrestling show. They provide their ratings for the event, with an overall average of 5/10 (2:56:04-2:56:08).

Wrestler of the Week: Roman Reigns is highlighted for his performance and promo work, with a mention of CM Punk (4:41-12:51).

TKO and WWE Creative: A discussion on Mark Shapiro's comments regarding TKO's full control over WWE creative (22:10-22:51).

Fan Behavior and Security: The hosts address concerning incidents at WrestleCon and the hotel, emphasizing the need for better security and respect for talent (56:55-1:01:25).

Match Reviews:

Usos & LA Knight vs. The Vision & IShowSpeed (1:29:46-1:30:52)

Gunther vs. Seth Rollins (1:51:38-1:55:45)

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Liv Morgan (1:55:49-1:59:29)

Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk (2:46:00-2:55:45)

Technical Issues: The hosts share their frustrations with the ESPN broadcast experience and technical glitches during the show (1:21:58-1:23:03).