Missing the Point

Missing the Point

SummerSlam On The Big Stage

Jul 31, 2026 · 1 hr 14 min · 12 segments

WWE is showing up on ESPN like it belongs there, and we think it does. Mike Marcangelo is joined by Zachary Gray to talk about why pro wrestling fits the “Entertainment Sports Programming Network”…

WWE is showing up on ESPN like it belongs there, and we think it does. Mike Marcangelo is joined by Zachary Gray to talk about why pro wrestling fits the “Entertainment Sports Programming Network” label perfectly, and why seeing WWE treated like a real sports property feels strangely validating for fans who’ve heard “you know it’s fake, right?” for years. From there, we go match by match through a stacked SummerSlam 2026 preview as the event heads to two nights in Minneapolis. We get into CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, what makes Punk’s promos feel real, and the one outcome that would genuinely frustrate us. We also dig into Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins and why the Shield rivalry still hits so hard a decade later, plus how a Rock return could instantly change the entire WWE main event picture. The undercard talk gets spicy too: the interim women’s ladder match (and why it could be a beautiful disaster), Liv Morgan vs Iyo Sky, Brock Lesnar vs Oba in Hell in a Cell, and the kind of gimmick match that makes even die-hard fans sigh. If you’re building your watch list, we also call out potential show-stealers like Penta vs Chad Gable and Gunther vs Nick Aldis. If you like smart wrestling talk with real opinions, hit play, subscribe, and share the show with a friend. After you listen, what’s your pick for match of the weekend? Support the show \----------- https://www.MTPshow.com Our Social Media https://linktr.ee/MTPSHOW \----------- Hosts: Mike Marcangelo, Dave Clarke Producer: Craig D'Alessandro, Dave Clarke Inquiries: Craig@mtpshow.com

WWE is showing up on ESPN like it belongs there, and we think it does. Mike Marcangelo is joined by Zachary Gray to talk about why pro wrestling fits the “Entertainment Sports Programming Network”…

WWE’s Move to ESPN & Mainstream Validation2:14 – 6:25

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:14

Uh, well just to, just to catch you up to speed, um, SummerSlam and the pay-per-views, as it used to be called, have changed a little bit now with the WWE Network back in 2024.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:24

Then they went over to Peacock, and now they all live domestically on ESPN, the ESPN app.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:32

Usually the first hour is on ESPN or ESPN2, which is cool.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:37

Because you're just joining on this show, I want to kind of get your take.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:42

Because when this originally happened last September, Hollywood Ray and I were talking about it.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:47

And I said, listen, I get that sports fans may really hate the fact that ESPN is covering WWE as if it was a sport.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:58

But as a WWE fan...

Michael MarcangeloHost

3:00

It is so cool to finally see wrestling on their broadcast and then on their app.

Michael MarcangeloHost

3:06

So as someone who has dabbled as a wrestling fan but is a pretty big sports fan, how do you feel about that?

Zachary GrayHost

3:13

What does the E stand in ESPN? What's it stand for?

Michael MarcangeloHost

3:17

Entertainment.

Zachary GrayHost

3:17

Yep.

Zachary GrayHost

3:18

Entertainment Sports Programming Network.

Zachary GrayHost

3:20

So it's only fitting that WWE is being featured on ESPN.

Zachary GrayHost

3:26

I mean, they have the ESPYs, which is just the most useless award show possible.

Zachary GrayHost

3:32

So I don't mind it.

Zachary GrayHost

3:33

I mean, look, they play drag racing.

Zachary GrayHost

3:36

Who gives a shit about drag racing and some of these other sports? They have ESPN ate the Ocho specials at times, which...

Zachary GrayHost

3:42

showcase random sporting events around the world.

Zachary GrayHost

3:46

Uh, and they go crazy for horse racing and that's not even humans.

Zachary GrayHost

3:49

It's just horses going in circles.

Zachary GrayHost

3:51

So yeah, I think wrestling and WWE in particular has come to a point where people, I mean, it's still going to have your diehards.

Zachary GrayHost

4:03

It's I think it's also become so mainstream in the culture and, uh, you know, the big names and people can name like, whether it's superstars of the attitude era, like, like undertaker and stone cold, your boy, Sean Michaels, but, uh, you know, John Cena, uh, you know, all these big names that have gone through WWE, aren't just names that people might know, or they've heard of, like they are mainstream names.

Zachary GrayHost

4:32

Um, Hollywood's helped with that too and everything else.

Zachary GrayHost

4:37

Overall, it's cool to see.

WWE’s Move to ESPN & Mainstream Validation2:14 – 6:25

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:14

Uh, well just to, just to catch you up to speed, um, SummerSlam and the pay-per-views, as it used to be called, have changed a little bit now with the WWE Network back in 2024.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:24

Then they went over to Peacock, and now they all live domestically on ESPN, the ESPN app.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:32

Usually the first hour is on ESPN or ESPN2, which is cool.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:37

Because you're just joining on this show, I want to kind of get your take.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:42

Because when this originally happened last September, Hollywood Ray and I were talking about it.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:47

And I said, listen, I get that sports fans may really hate the fact that ESPN is covering WWE as if it was a sport.

Michael MarcangeloHost

2:58

But as a WWE fan...

Michael MarcangeloHost

3:00

It is so cool to finally see wrestling on their broadcast and then on their app.

Michael MarcangeloHost

3:06

So as someone who has dabbled as a wrestling fan but is a pretty big sports fan, how do you feel about that?

Zachary GrayHost

3:13

What does the E stand in ESPN? What's it stand for?

Michael MarcangeloHost

3:17

Entertainment.

Zachary GrayHost

3:17

Yep.

Zachary GrayHost

3:18

Entertainment Sports Programming Network.

Zachary GrayHost

3:20

So it's only fitting that WWE is being featured on ESPN.

Zachary GrayHost

3:26

I mean, they have the ESPYs, which is just the most useless award show possible.

Zachary GrayHost

3:32

So I don't mind it.

Zachary GrayHost

3:33

I mean, look, they play drag racing.

Zachary GrayHost

3:36

Who gives a shit about drag racing and some of these other sports? They have ESPN ate the Ocho specials at times, which...

Zachary GrayHost

3:42

showcase random sporting events around the world.

Zachary GrayHost

3:46

Uh, and they go crazy for horse racing and that's not even humans.

Zachary GrayHost

3:49

It's just horses going in circles.

Zachary GrayHost

3:51

So yeah, I think wrestling and WWE in particular has come to a point where people, I mean, it's still going to have your diehards.

Zachary GrayHost

4:03

It's I think it's also become so mainstream in the culture and, uh, you know, the big names and people can name like, whether it's superstars of the attitude era, like, like undertaker and stone cold, your boy, Sean Michaels, but, uh, you know, John Cena, uh, you know, all these big names that have gone through WWE, aren't just names that people might know, or they've heard of, like they are mainstream names.

Zachary GrayHost

4:32

Um, Hollywood's helped with that too and everything else.

Zachary GrayHost

4:37

Overall, it's cool to see.