Good evening, wrestling fans 👊

Tonight’s midweek edition dives straight into Boston’s eruption on RAW: Triple H set the stage, John Cena came home and completed the Grand Slam with a throwback classic over Dirty Dom, and CM Punk fired the first shot for WarGames as The Vision closed in with Logan, Breakker, Reed, and Heyman circling. The women kept pace with Stephanie Vaquer holding firm and a chaotic Kabuki Warriors title win that set the board for November. NXT followed with sharp Gold Rush builds, a brutal Last Man Standing, and a mirror-perfect character piece from Blake Monroe.

Before the reels and reviews, a spotlight for a creator we love: Wrestling.GPT on Instagram. The page is pumping out must-see generated art and we are featuring more of it in upcoming issues. Go show them love and toss a follow to @wrestling.gpt.

Settle in for the full rundown, grades, and takeaways from a week where storytelling, stakes, and a red-hot crowd reminded everyone why this sport still hits.

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Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Tone: Electric from start to finish. RAW felt like a premium event disguised as Monday night television. No filler, no dead spots — just storytelling, emotion, and a crowd that came to make history.

🎤 Triple H Opens the Show — “A Magical Night in Boston”
Triple H walked out in full King of Kings mode, but this wasn’t corporate Hunter. It was the fan, the performer, and the boss all in one. His words about “the greatest of all time” built perfect tension until he said the name everyone was waiting for: John Cena. Boston erupted. It wasn’t nostalgia, it was reverence.

🟢 John Cena Returns Home — and Dirty Dom Picks the Wrong Fight
Cena’s return was pure goosebumps. Green shirts, towels waving, grown men yelling like kids again. He spoke from the heart about gratitude and legacy — this final run is about passing the torch.

Then came Dominik Mysterio, drowning in boos. He ran his mouth, calling himself the greatest Intercontinental Champion ever. Hunter’s reply was perfect: “Any time, any place, any era? How about right now.” The bell rang.

🏆 Intercontinental Championship — John Cena def. Dominik Mysterio (NEW Champion)
This was old-school storytelling at its finest. Ref bumps, false finishes, and every Eddie Guerrero callback you could want. The finish — an Attitude Adjustment and clean three count — gave Cena his first Intercontinental title and completed his Grand Slam in his hometown. Fireworks, tears, and one of the loudest reactions of the year.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Classic WWE magic.

🥋 Rusev def. Damian Priest (Last Time Is Now Tournament – Round 1)
Rusev and Priest traded heavy strikes in a bruising first-round match. Priest sold his injured eye perfectly, Rusev targeted it and landed a clean Machka Kick for the win. Simple, hard-hitting, effective — and a nice nod to their old Cena connection.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ — Straightforward and satisfying.

🩸 CM Punk vs. The Vision — The War Begins
Punk came out fuming over Logan Paul’s brass knuckle attack. Logan swaggered down with Heyman, Reed, and Breakker — The Vision in full. Heyman insulted AJ Lee, Punk fired back: “If AJ was here, she’d drop all five of you.” The crowd roared.

Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso hit the ring, chaos followed, and the crowd sang “Kingdom” as the babyfaces cleared the ring. Backstage, the trio made it official: WAR GAMES. The segment ended with William Regal’s voice echoing through the arena.

Segment Grade: A+ — Raw emotion, top-tier pacing, and the biggest energy Punk has had all year.

👑 Women’s World Championship — Stephanie Vaquer def. Raquel Rodriguez
Vaquer’s quiet dominance continued in a strong, physical match. Raquel’s power clashed perfectly with Vaquer’s speed, and ringside tension boiled over when Nikki Bella snapped after the bell, smashing Vaquer with the title. The heel turn hit perfectly, setting up chaos before WarGames.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐¼ — Solid match, great post-fight payoff.

⚔️ Sheamus def. Shinsuke Nakamura (Last Time Is Now Tournament – Round 1)
A fight between two masters of stiffness. Every chop, kick, and knee landed flush. One well-timed Brogue Kick ended it clean. Sheamus advancing makes sense — a veteran chasing Cena for one more showdown.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐¼ — Brutal and believable.

👑 Women’s Tag Team Championship — Kabuki Warriors def. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (NEW Champions)
Main event time. Charlotte and Bliss looked sharp, but Asuka and Kairi’s chemistry stole the show. The finish came after interference from Nia Jax and Lash Legend, handing Kabuki the gold. Then the lights went out — Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley returned. The building exploded as Ripley screamed “WAR GAMES!” with Charlotte and Bliss beside her.

Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ — Fun, fast, and explosive.

RAW didn’t just deliver; it reminded fans why WWE works when the heart is there. Cena’s historic win, Punk’s fire, the women’s chaos, and WarGames confirmed all in one night. Boston was molten, and every segment mattered.

🥇 John Cena
🥈 CM Punk
🥉 Rhea Ripley

Show Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐¼ — 8.8/10
RAW felt alive again. The crowd was locked in, the stories had weight, and everyone showed up ready to make history. This was more than television — it was a celebration of what makes wrestling special.

Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando
Tone: Gold Rush build with one elite backstage segment, a violent main event, and the Speed division still fighting its identity.

Tatum’s instinct is to fight. Izzi Dame’s instinct is to protect. Jacy Jayne weaponized that tension and pushed Tatum into accepting a Gold Rush rematch. Clean character beats and subtle foreshadowing that The Culling’s unity might collapse.
Segment Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Fast, frantic sprint with Troy winning off a Black Hole Slam. The issue is simple: Jasper Troy is a monster. Speed matches shrink him. He should be crushing people in real fights, not racing the clock.
Match Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

A fun, busy TV-style match. Page interferes, Hendry counters, Green eats a slap, and Thea snags the sunset flip win. Keeps the AAA Mixed Tag feud hot and gives Thea momentum.
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Segment of the entire week. Blake confronted her dual persona in a tense mirror showdown. Bright-blazer Blake negotiated with the Woman From Hell about dismantling Sol Ruca at Gold Rush. Strategic, focused, and beautifully acted.
Segment Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Young energy at its best. Evans showed nerves and swagger. Slater surprised with a run-in. Stereo dives hit perfectly. The belts likely stay put at Gold Rush, but the challenge feels real.
Segment Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Amateur base beats bar fight bravado. Tavion ate early heat, adjusted levels, and nailed a sharp belly to belly for the win. Quietly strong TV win.
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Ricky Saints def Trick Williams**
Violent and dramatic. Kendo shots to the ribs, chair stacks, steps Book End, a rail spear through the desk to finish it. Trick bled like a future headliner. Saints survived like a champion who understands suffering. Oba Femi returned afterward to close the show with authority.
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Night One:
• Tatum Paxley (c) vs Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Title
• Blake Monroe (c) vs Sol Ruca for the Women’s North American Title
• Joe Hendry & Thea Hail vs Ethan Page & Chelsea Green for the AAA Mixed Tag Titles

Night Two:
• Zaria vs Fallon Henley for the Women’s Speed Title
• Jackson Drake vs Sean Legacy for the Evolve Title
• TNA Knockouts Championship triple threat

Gold: Je’Von Evans
Silver: Riley Saints
Bronze: Blake Monroe

A sharp build show anchored by a violent Last Man Standing match and a brilliant character segment. Gold Rush feels focused and alive. The Speed division still needs a full identity overhaul.

By MrTeshk | Straight Shoot UNFILTERED

The city of Toronto just made wrestling history.

In a landmark move that will reshape the sports and entertainment landscape of Canada’s largest city, WWE and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) have officially entered a multi-year strategic partnership, creating a powerhouse alliance that positions Toronto as one of WWE’s key global markets moving forward.

For context, MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto FC, and Toronto Marlies — meaning this partnership unites wrestling’s global empire with Canada’s most influential sports organization.

The deal includes original content collaborations, exclusive merchandise drops, community events, and crossover appearances between WWE Superstars and Toronto’s biggest athletes. For wrestling fans across the GTA, this is more than just another touring date. This is a statement.

The seeds for this move were planted long ago. WWE and MLSE have worked together on smaller projects over the years, including the limited-edition WWE Legacy Belts for the Maple Leafs and Raptors — a subtle hint at something bigger brewing behind the scenes.

Now, that relationship has evolved into something far more ambitious.

MLSE Chief Business Officer Phil King called the deal “a chance to create iconic entertainment moments,” while WWE’s Co-Head of Revenue Alex Varga pointed to Toronto’s proven track record, hosting major events like Money in the Bank 2024 and Elimination Chamber 2025. WWE clearly sees Toronto not just as a city that sells tickets, but as a home base for its next era of fan engagement.

As part of the agreement, Monday Night Raw returns to Scotiabank Arena on January 26, airing live on Netflix. Expect crossover appearances from Toronto sports stars, with WWE Superstars attending Maple Leafs games that same weekend.

Tickets go on sale November 14 at 10 a.m. ET, with pre-sale access available using the code WWEVIP.

This isn’t just a return to Toronto — it’s a full-scale invasion of the city’s culture.

While WWE and MLSE benefit from the global spotlight, the ripple effect on independent wrestling in Ontario might be even more important. Promotions like Smash Wrestling, Destiny Pro Wrestling, and Greektown Wrestling have built loyal fan bases across the GTA. The concern, naturally, was whether WWE’s presence might squeeze out smaller promotions from key venues.

Straight Shoot reached out to a WWE representative for clarification, who confirmed that the partnership is designed to enhance access, not restrict it.

“In no way will this partnership prevent other sports or wrestling companies from utilizing MLSE properties,” the representative said. “This partnership enhances opportunities — it does not limit them.”

That reassurance carries major weight. Independent wrestling thrives on the grassroots energy that feeds WWE’s own talent pipeline. Many of today’s stars — from Kevin Owens to Sami Zayn — came through these exact circuits.

With WWE planting deeper roots in Toronto, the entire ecosystem stands to grow stronger.

Toronto is already a global sports capital, but this partnership takes it one step further. WWE’s increased footprint across MLSE’s platforms means new content, larger cross-promotions, and year-round visibility for the wrestling community.

For young wrestlers, this means performing in a region now directly tied to WWE’s orbit. For fans, it means more events, more appearances, and more crossover moments between their favorite athletes and Superstars. For independent promotions, it means a seat at the table instead of being left outside the door.

This is not just a partnership. It’s a movement.

Toronto has always been one of wrestling’s loudest, smartest, and most loyal markets — from SkyDome’s WrestleMania VI to the chaos of SummerSlam 2019 and the emotion of Money in the Bank 2024. Now, the city is no longer a host. It’s a hub.

WWE’s partnership with MLSE is not about restriction; it’s about expansion. It’s about connecting global entertainment with local passion. It’s about creating moments that remind us why Toronto has always been a wrestling city at heart.

The GTA just became WWE territory again — and this time, it feels permanent.

Straight Shoot UNFILTERED will have more coverage and exclusive interviews as the story unfolds. Stay locked in.

Because in Toronto, the wrestling world doesn’t just arrive — it lives here.

Before we get to the memes, Darrion wants to spotlight a super cool Instagram page we found this week. We reached out to the creator and the generated art they have been posting is must-see content. We will be showcasing some of their work in future editions, and we highly recommend giving them a follow.

Yo Wrestling Fam! 👊

Straight Shoot UNFILTERED has your back with an exclusive VPN deal, and with Punk’s reign heating up, Rey’s return shaking Raw, and NXT firing on all cylinders, there has never been a better time to stay locked in.

Whether you are catching Bron Breakker’s chaos, Ilja Dragunov’s title clinics, or Kelani Jordan’s cold new edge, this is the move that keeps you ringside and worldwide without missing a second.

Stay connected. Stay protected.
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Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

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