WKPWP Interview Classic (10 Yrs Ago): Jim Ross on pros and cons of separate rosters for Raw and Smackdown, plus Cody, Reigns, Seth, OKC Thunder (Ad-Free – 130 min.)

About this episode

Jim Ross discusses the pros and cons of WWE's brand split and shares insights on various wrestlers and teams.

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... SHOW SUMMARY: In this week’s Interview Classic podcasts, we jump back to ten years ago this week (5-26-2016) when PWTorch editor Wade Keller interviewed Jim Ross with a predominant focus on WWE’s announcement that Smackdown goes live on Tuesdays in July and would include a distinct roster from Raw. Ross dissected the possible benefits and pitfalls of such a major change in WWE’s structure, looks back at the prior brand split and what is different today, his preference for how the separate rosters would be structured and how champions should be ideally featured. Also, live calls and emails delved into more aspects of the brand split and other topics. Plus some Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and NBA OKC Thunder-Golden State Warriors talk at the end. DIRECT LINK: VIP AUDIO LINK NOT VIP? NO PROBLEM… CLICK HERE FOR VIP SIGN UP INFO OTHER LINKS… Or support us on Patreon… –https://www.patreon.com/pwtorchvip Subscribe to our YouTube Channel… –https://www.youtube.com/pwtorch freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "pwtorchcom_test_300x250", slotId…

People in this episode

Host: Wade Keller

Guest: Jim Ross

Topics covered

• WWE brand split
• Jim Ross interview
• Smackdown live
• Raw roster
• Cody Rhodes
• Roman Reigns
• Seth Rollins

Keywords

• WWE
• Smackdown
• Raw
• Jim Ross
• Cody Rhodes
• Roman Reigns
• Seth Rollins
• brand split
• NBA
• OKC Thunder

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WWE

Places: OKC Thunder

More episodes of PWTorch VIP Audio

• WKH – WWE Smackdown review: Final first-round KOTR and QOTR Fatal Four-way matches, Gunther names stipulation, Cody-Sami exchange (32 min.) · June 13, 2026 · 33 min
• Wade Keller Post-Show – WWE Smackdown: Keller & Machado talk Sami-Cody, Jey advancing in KOTR, is Roman a heel or a face, botched spots in QOTR four-way, Royce Keys, Knight, more (Ad-Free – 135 min.) · June 13, 2026 · 2h 16m
• Radican Worldwide with Kelly Wells: NJPW Dominion PPV in-depth preview including a look at Idiolo vs. Umino vs. Maloney IWGP Global Hvt. Championship match, KO Bros. vs. United Empire tag title match, Newman vs. Tsuji IWGP Hvt. Championship main event, more (48 min.) · June 13, 2026 · 49 min
• WKPWP 15 Yrs Ago Livecasts: Health of wrestling in 5-10 years, Warrior-Hogan, Nash-Show-Shaq, TNA fantasy game, Disco, Raw & ratings, Spike’s view of TNA (Ad-Free – 150 min.) · June 13, 2026 · 2h 31m
• PWTorch Dailycast – PWTorch ‘90s Pastcast: Moynahan & McDonald discuss PWTorch Newsletter #391 (6-8-96) including Hall promises big surprise, WWF sends Hall a letter, Bulldog gives notice, World Wrestling Peace Festival, more (Ad-Free – 123 min.) · June 12, 2026 · 2h 3m
• The Fix Mailbag w/Todd & Wade (pt. 2 of 2): Georgia Championship Wrestling from early ’80s, New Japan Super Juniors, Sid & Warrior, Ron Simmons-Rock, vintage wrestler footage (73 min.) · June 12, 2026 · 1h 14m