Good Evening Wrestling Fans 👊

Straight Shoot UNFILTERED is coming to you live this Monday night with a special late-night edition, landing right as Raw kicks off and the fallout from an emotional weekend shakes the entire wrestling landscape.

The biggest headline in the world of wrestling is official — John Cena’s final match goes down December 13th in Washington, D.C., marking the end of an era two decades in the making. In tonight’s MrTeshk’s Two Sense, we break down why Gunther is the perfect final opponent, what Cena’s farewell means for the next generation, and how WWE plans to send off one of the greatest to ever do it.

Also inside: SmackDown’s loaded go-home show, a full breakdown of Saturday Night’s Main Event, and our take on the creative calls that defined the weekend — from Drew McIntyre’s heartbreak to Jade Cargill’s coronation and CM Punk’s championship climb.

Settle in, grab your coffee or your midnight snack, and catch up with Straight Shoot’s late-night special — the only wrestling newsletter dropping while the lights are still on inside the arena.

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By MrTeshk | Straight Shoot UNFILTERED

For more than twenty years, John Cena has been the standard-bearer of professional wrestling. From the days of Ruthless Aggression to the bright lights of Hollywood, from sixteen world titles to countless unforgettable rivalries, Cena has done what few ever could — he carried the business on his back and never stopped running.

Now, the time has come for the final chapter.
It’s official: John Cena’s last match will take place on December 13th, 2025, in Washington, D.C. This is not just another farewell show. It is the closing act of one of the greatest careers in wrestling history.

And fittingly, the rumored opponent is not a nostalgia pick or a friendly sendoff. It’s the man redefining dominance for a new era: Gunther, the Ring General.

Reports from within WWE point to Gunther as the man set to retire John Cena. It’s a passing of the torch wrapped in pure symbolism. Gunther is everything the new era of wrestling stands for: disciplined, deliberate, powerful, and steeped in technical excellence.

The rumored setup is simple but powerful. WWE will hold a December tournament, with the winner earning the right to face Cena in his farewell match. Gunther, of course, is expected to go the distance.

It’s poetic symmetry. Cena’s first match in 2002 was an open challenge answered with “Ruthless Aggression.” His final match could be the reverse — Cena issuing the open challenge, only to meet the man who represents the evolution of everything he once embodied.

If that happens, it will not just be a match. It will be a generational handoff — a moment where one era bows to the next.

Before his curtain call, Cena’s farewell tour continues. His last major stop was Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, where he faced AJ Styles in one last installment of their legendary rivalry.

From there, Cena’s calling it a “reflection tour” — a final run through familiar faces and unfinished business. He’s shared the ring this year with Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Brock Lesnar, Logan Paul, and R-Truth, giving fans nostalgia, storytelling, and flashes of that old Cena fire.

And though his short-lived heel turn earlier this year split the audience, this final stretch feels different. It’s not about shock value or reinvention. It’s about legacy. It’s about giving the fans one last ride.

If you’ve watched Gunther’s rise, you understand why this feels right. He’s the kind of performer who doesn’t need theatrics or catchphrases. He lets his presence speak for itself.

His historic Intercontinental Championship reign set new standards for dominance. His matches were clinics in storytelling, pacing, and precision. He brings legitimacy to everything he touches — exactly the kind of challenge worthy of Cena’s final fight.

Gunther represents what WWE could become in the next decade: a blend of global talent, discipline, and respect for the craft.

And Cena? He has always been about doing the right thing for the business. Going out on his back, putting over the next great name, would be the ultimate tribute to his own creed: Hustle. Loyalty. Respect.

At Straight Shoot UNFILTERED, we’re marking this milestone with something special: a PSA Grade 9 John Cena Autographed 2023 Prizm Card Giveaway.

This isn’t just memorabilia — it’s a piece of wrestling history. A tribute to the man who carried an entire generation of fans through the highs and lows of WWE.

To enter, it’s free.
Subscribe at straightshoot.co for your chance to win on December 13th, 2025 — the night Cena officially says goodbye. Subscribers also get exclusive coverage, daily wrestling updates, and premium giveaways every month.

It feels almost surreal. The man who once stormed onto SmackDown shouting “Ruthless Aggression” is preparing to walk away — not as a gimmick, but as the measuring stick of an era.

John Cena’s final match won’t just be the end of a career. It will be a celebration of everything he gave to the sport — the work ethic, the storytelling, the connection with the fans who loved him and booed him in equal measure.

For every kid who waved a “Never Give Up” towel, every adult who once chanted “Cena Sucks,” and every fan who grew up watching him evolve, this farewell will hit deep.

No matter how the match ends, one truth remains unshakable:
John Cena will always be the standard.

And when the bell rings one last time in Washington, D.C., the world won’t just say goodbye. It’ll say thank you.

“The Calm Before the Chaos” — (Go-Home to Saturday Night’s Main Event)

By MrTeshk

Friday’s SmackDown felt like a brand finally ready for battle. Every match had purpose, every promo carried weight, and the show managed what most go-home episodes fail to do — it made you need to see the next chapter.

Grade: B

Tiffany Stratton demanded Jade Cargill right now, but Nick Aldis played the adult in the room, barring contact until Saturday. Jade strolled out anyway — calm, confident, and chillingly composed. A quick scuffle tease sold Stratton’s nagging knee and framed the match as power vs. poise, aura vs. injury. Not electric, but effective.

Ilja Dragunov (c) def. Nathan Frazer – 18:51
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: A

The best TV match of the week — a straight classic. Ilja and Frazer tore it down in a fast, physical clinic that felt like a PLE main event. Frazer’s Phoenix Splash near-fall had the crowd shaking; Ilja’s closing Powerbomb → H-Bomb combo was pure brutality.

Post-match chaos (DIY, Axiom, and Tama Tonga’s silent stare) opened multiple new lanes — Ilja’s next challenger, future tag grudge, and a U.S. Title scene with direction again.

Why it worked:

Match Rating: ⭐⭐
Segment Grade: C+

A short but smart reset for babyface Melo. The Miz’s interference added some juice before the First 48 finish. Nothing revolutionary, but functional. Melo feels fresh again — give him mic time and space to breathe, and this rebuild works.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐
Segment Grade: C

They worked around the size gap well, but the distraction finish was déjà vu. The budding Bliss/Charlotte pairing is the story — not this singles rerun. If WWE’s smart, they’ll pivot this energy toward the women’s tag titles.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: B-

The Guns did what they do best — make everyone look elite. Interference again decided the finish, but the post-match destruction sealed the message: MFTs want belts and bodies. Fenix tried to save, Nakamura got crushed, and the group finally looked dangerous.

Note: Let MFT win clean soon. Real dominance doesn’t need help.

Segment Grade: A-

For once, a contract signing that actually mattered. Drew rejected “champion’s advantage,” Cody lost patience, and chaos followed. They agreed: the title can change hands on a DQ or count-out. That stip instantly made Saturday unpredictable.

The promo exchange was razor-sharp — Drew saying he wrote Cody’s blueprint; Cody firing back that he walked while Drew was fired. One belt swing, one Claymore, one table powerbomb later, and Cody lay motionless without looking weak.

This sold doubt. And doubt sells tickets.

Top 5 Most Impressive
1️⃣ Ilja Dragunov — Carried TV like a PLE; U.S. Title prestige restored.
2️⃣ Nathan Frazer — Star-making toughness; thrived in Ilja’s chaos.
3️⃣ Drew McIntyre — Controlled fury; looked unstoppable heading into Saturday.
4️⃣ Carmelo Hayes — Quick reset landed; needs promo time to seal it.
5️⃣ MFTs — Brutal, focused, and finally menacing.

3 Misses
❌ Bliss vs. Jax — Stale matchup; time to pivot.
❌ Stratton vs. Jade — Needs sharper bite before the big stage.
❌ Too much interference — Once adds tension, weekly makes it predictable.

🥇 Ilja Dragunov
🥈 Drew McIntyre
🥉 Nathan Frazer

Friday’s SmackDown did its job and then some. A four-star U.S. Title classic, a contract signing that actually mattered, and a tag division finding its edge. Trim the interference, heat up the women’s title story, and this brand is firing on all cylinders.

With Saturday Night’s Main Event in the books and fallout hitting Raw tonight, it’s safe to say — SmackDown set the table. Now let’s see who flips it.

“Legacy, Opportunity, and a Missed Coronation”

By MrTeshk

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Tone: Classic spectacle meets modern pressure — a night packed with title matches, emotion, and one undeniable truth… this should have been Drew McIntyre’s moment.

Saturday Night’s Main Event returned with weight — a throwback in name, a statement in presentation. The 1985-style intro rolled like a time machine, bridging eras. The lights were bright, the card was loaded, and every match felt like a bookmark in a story bigger than itself.

But when the dust settled, the same thought echoed through the Delta Center — WWE blinked when it should have changed.

Cody Rhodes (c) def. Drew McIntyre
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Story: “The Real American Dream vs. The Story Finisher.”

Eighteen minutes of near-perfect wrestling theatre. The stipulation — title could change hands via DQ or count-out — gave every false finish meaning. Cody wrestled desperate, Drew wrestled angry, and the crowd fed off both.

Superplexes, tables, Claymores that nearly ended it — this was craftsmanship with consequence. Then came the pivot: Cody DDT’d Drew onto the title (the same belt Drew dared him to use) and sealed it with a Cross Rhodes that looked less heroic and more human.

MrTeshk’s Take:
Drew needed this. Cody’s reign is starting to feel expected, and nothing kills a champion faster than predictability. McIntyre’s journey — pandemic-era champion turned forgotten contender — was built for redemption. Instead, he walks away 5-15 in major title matches since 2021. That is not long-term storytelling. That is creative hesitation.

SmackDown needed a new heart. Drew was it.

Segment Grade: A- (Match), D (Booking Call)

Jade Cargill def. Tiffany Stratton
Match Rating: ⭐⭐

Story: “The rise of the powerhouse.”

Six minutes. Three powerbombs. One message: dominance. Stratton’s injured knee was the story; Jade’s precision was the punctuation. This was not a match — it was a coronation.

MrTeshk’s Take:
Right winner, right call. Jade finally feels like a star built for prime time. Her presence screams franchise, but her mic work still whispers project. Pair her with a strong mouthpiece — a Heyman, a Bivens, a voice that turns potential into permanence.

Segment Grade: B+

Dominik Mysterio (c) def. Rusev & Penta
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Story: “The coward’s brilliance.”

Pure chaos. Rusev dominated, Penta dazzled, and Dom — the ultimate opportunist — slithered his way to survival. A fake bell ring, a chair trick, and a perfectly timed Frog Splash after Penta’s hammer misfire.

MrTeshk’s Take:
Dominik continues to redefine the coward heel. He is Eddie Guerrero energy in a Gen Z frame. Every win feels like theft — and that is exactly why it works. Rusev, though, deserves more than silver medals. Let him eat soon.

Segment Grade: B

Segment Grade: A

Emotional. Authentic. Final. Cena’s sit-down with Tom Rinaldi was cinematic nostalgia done right — no fake tears, no forced promos. Just honesty. The announcement of a 16-man tournament to crown his successor added stakes, and his tease of “faces who don’t even work here” cracked the door for magic.

MrTeshk’s Take:
Cena made the end feel purposeful. He’s not fading — he’s handing off the torch on his own terms. Expect Gunther, Orton, or LA Knight to orbit this story. But the truth? Hearing “You want some? Come get some!” again under the spotlight hit like a time capsule. Goosebumps.

CM Punk def. Jey Uso
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Story: “Experience beats emotion.”

This main event was deliberate, patient, and layered. The first half was slow-burn chess; the second half turned violent. Spears through barricades, GTS counters, and finally, three Go to Sleeps to finish the job.

Punk’s emotion afterward sold it — tears, exhaustion, and the sense that the mountain was harder to climb this time.

MrTeshk’s Take:
Strong match, strange chemistry. Punk looked sharp but methodical — like a man playing chess while his opponent was trying to brawl. It worked technically, not emotionally. Punk’s win feels more stabilizer than statement. WWE bought time, not transformation.

Segment Grade: B+ (Execution), B- (Energy)

1️⃣ Drew McIntyre — Wrestled like a world champion even in defeat. The real “American Dream” moment slipped away.
2️⃣ Jade Cargill — Ruthless, radiant, ready for prime time.
3️⃣ CM Punk — Still proving experience matters, even when his body fights him.
4️⃣ Dominik Mysterio — The most consistent midcard act in wrestling right now.
5️⃣ Cody Rhodes — Great performance, fading aura. Needs evolution.

🥇 Drew McIntyre — Made the night feel urgent.
🥈 Jade Cargill — Arrived, owned, conquered.
🥉 John Cena — The living legacy who still commands the room.

Saturday Night’s Main Event delivered spectacle, nostalgia, and solid wrestling from top to bottom. But it stopped short of greatness.
Drew should have won — and that shadow hung over everything. Cody’s story needs evolution, Punk’s reign feels like a placeholder, and creative continues to flirt with comfort instead of risk.

Still, the show reminded fans why this brand thrives on moments. The emotion of Cena. The dominance of Jade. The defiance of Drew.

In a single night, WWE reminded us how big it can feel — even when it plays it safe.

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