Jim Cornette Reviews Braun Strowman's Show "Everything On The Menu"

Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman: A Culinary Reality Show Review

This discussion centers on the new USA Network show, "Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman," featuring the former WWE giant. A key point of surprise is the show's association with WWE, despite Strowman's release from the company, and his continued use of the WWE name.

Show Format and Content

The show is described as a standard Food Network-style program, akin to "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" or "Man Versus Food." The host visits a town, explores a few restaurants, showcasing their ambiance, history, and the food preparation process. The host then samples the dishes. The editing is noted as "nice, peppy," and the 22-minute runtime without commercials is considered a positive. Strowman is characterized as a "very talkative fellow" with a "great personality," though his wrestling abilities are questioned.

WWE Tie-in and Misleading Presentation

A significant criticism is the show's heavy reliance on WWE branding and clips, particularly in the first episode. This suggests USA Network believed they were securing a WWE-affiliated personality. The show was pre-taped while Strowman was still with WWE, leading to a disconnect as he was released before the show aired. The transcript highlights the irony of WWE footage being shown after Strowman was no longer with the company.

Restaurant Experiences and Food Consumption

The first episode featured Strowman in Fort Worth, Texas, visiting Angelo's Barbecue and a "fancy restaurant" with a $50 pork chop. While Strowman identified himself as a WWE wrestler who gets to travel and see these places, the show's premise of him eating "everything on the menu" is questioned.

• Barbecue Place: Strowman was served brisket, which he enjoyed and discussed with the restaurant staff.
• Fancy Restaurant: Strowman stated he would "have everything on the menu." Plates of food were brought out, and close-ups showed him tasting each item. However, the transcript notes that he did not actually eat everything presented, stating, "I got a lot to do. I got a lot to eat here. Have see you next time." This is seen as misleading, as viewers expect to see him consume a substantial amount of food, especially given the cost of the dishes.

Comparison to Other Food Travel Shows

The discussion draws parallels to other celebrity-led food travel shows, such as Anthony Bourdain's CNN program, Stanley Tucci's show in Italy, and Eva Longoria's series in Spain. The transcript questions the audience and market for these shows, where celebrities "randomly doing shows where they travel and eat." Tony Shalhoub's miniseries about bread is also mentioned as an example of this trend.

WWE's Role and Show's Future

The transcript speculates that WWE likely had to sign off on the show's production and continued airing, even after Strowman's release. USA Network, having invested in production, would have pushed for the show to air regardless of Strowman's employment status. The ratings for the first episode after SmackDown were around 400,000, with a subsequent episode dropping to 200,000. The long-term viability of the show's concept is questioned.

Klondike Bill and Competitive Eating Anecdotes

The conversation shifts to legendary strongman and eater, Klondike Bill, and his feats of consumption.

• Big Texan Steak Ranch: Klondike Bill is mentioned as the only person to have eaten two 72-ounce steak dinners (steak, baked potato, salad, butter, shrimp cocktail) within an hour at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. This occurred in 1962.
• All-You-Can-Eat Buffet: In the 1960s, Klondike Bill frequented a small-town family buffet in North Carolina that offered an all-you-can-eat buffet for $1.99. Despite the escalating price signs, he continued to eat there until a sign was posted: "All you can eat $1.99 no wrestlers." Bill is described as a "real deal" strongman who wrestled at 320 pounds despite being 5'5".

Personal Anecdote at the Big Texan

The speaker shares a personal experience of eating at the Big Texan Steak Ranch with other wrestling personalities (Harry White, Bob Barnett, Scott Cornish) on the afternoon of a Terry Funk vs. Bret Hart match. They saw Klondike Bill's picture on the wall and the large stuffed bison head above the entrance. A humorous anecdote is shared about Bobby Eaton posing under the bison head, leading to him being nicknamed "Bison Eaton."

Key Concepts

• Reality Television: The discussion revolves around the format and appeal of reality television, particularly food travel shows.
• WWE Branding: The use of WWE names, footage, and personalities in non-WWE programming.
• Pre-taping: The practice of filming content in advance of its broadcast.
• Misleading Content: The discrepancy between what a show promises (e.g., eating everything on the menu) and what is actually shown.
• Competitive Eating: The concept of consuming large quantities of food, exemplified by the Klondike Bill stories.
• Nostalgia: The reference to past wrestling personalities and events.