Good Morning Wrestling Fans 👊

Straight Shoot UNFILTERED is back, and this week’s Monday Night Raw delivered a sharp and story-driven Crown Jewel go-home show that hit all the right notes. From Roman Reigns reasserting dominance and steering the Bloodline’s narrative, to CM Punk, LA Knight, and Jey Uso clashing in a battle of pride and positioning — the red brand leaned heavy into layered storytelling and payoff.

The tension between Jimmy and Jey Uso continues to be WWE’s most compelling thread, with Roman quietly pulling strings from the shadows. Meanwhile, Maxxine Dupri showed growth against Becky Lynch, AJ Styles built momentum ahead of John Cena, and the women’s division delivered with IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, and Asuka fueling their chaos toward Perth.

It was a night built on momentum, personality, and purpose — everything a go-home show should be. Grab your coffee and dive into the full Raw Breakdown — complete with star ratings, MVPs, and the Straight Shoot takeaways you won’t find anywhere else.

By MrTeshk — Straight Shoot Unfiltered

Roman Reigns walked into Dallas with that easy swagger and—boom—Bronson Reed, with Paul Heyman stirring the pot, crashed the party. The Australian Street Fight challenge for Crown Jewel is the exact stip this feud needed: personal, mean, and tailor-made for Reed’s aura without taking shine off Roman. A proper pull-apart: two Superman Punches, table teased, chaos everywhere. That’s how you open a go-home.

Segment grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Backstage beats told the real story. “I see and hear everything” Roman Reigns played master conductor while Jimmy and Jey Uso convinced themselves they’re aligned. Jey swears he’s focused on the World Title; Roman needles his timing and priorities; Jimmy tries to protect, but bristles at Roman’s fingerprints on Jey’s decisions. The hook: Jey chasing singles glory is making him act a little more… Roman. And Jimmy knows it.

Why it landed: Every glance felt like chess—Roman planting, Jimmy bristling, Jey caught between pride and pressure. That’s the energy you want pre-PLE.

Arc grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Maxxine Dupri delivered her best main-roster performance: sharper timing, composed sequences (ankle lock → counters), believable late flurry. The count-out finish protects Becky Lynch while giving Maxxine the upset headline—but real talk: the push feels a step ahead of the polish. Crowd was with her, layout helped, TV moment popped… yet the in-between footwork and strike snap still whisper “needs a finishing-school run.”

MrTeshk’s take: Respect the work and improvement. If the rocket is real, a short NXT stint to sharpen ring IQ/tempo makes the elevation stick. Come back scary.

Result: Maxxine def. Becky (Count-Out)
Match rating: ⭐⭐

Good TV wrestling with a clear story: Roxanne Perez targeted the arm, Lyra Valkyria fought from underneath, and the seconds actually mattered to the finish without overcooking it. Pop Rox after the floor DDT was crisp, and Lyra sold enough of the arm to keep it honest.

Result: Roxanne def. Lyra
Match rating: ⭐⭐⭐

CM Punk came to stake the World Title claim; LA Knight said “get in line”; Jey Uso reminded everyone he’s owed. Sharp barbs (Punk’s “never been world champion”, Knight’s “great husband, trash champion”). Once Jimmy Uso stepped out, the temp spiked—Jey superkicks Knight, Punk shoves Jimmy to tag Jey, Jimmy fires back. Messy in a good way: overlapping agendas and Roman’s influence seeping into every decision.

Segment grade: ⭐⭐⭐
Why not A? A touch long; the heat truly peaked when Jimmy entered. Character math still works heading into Perth.

Fast, familiar, fun. IYO SKY’s precision vs. Kairi Sane’s hesitation-as-weapon played well. The prawn-hold + Asuka leverage finish keeps Sane credible, IYO aggrieved, and the larger triangle spicy. Post-match beatdown keeps tempers boiling for Crown Jewel.

Result: Kairi def. IYO
Match rating: ⭐⭐⭐

A highlight-reel TV tag: big dives, tight counters (JD’s standing Spanish Fly!), and a clean statement win for AJ Styles ahead of John Cena. The Rusev/Dominik entanglement added just enough chaos without stealing focus. Styles Clash as the finish is the right visual the week of a legacy showdown.

Result: Styles/Lee/Penta def. Judgment Day
Match rating: ⭐⭐⭐

They didn’t go long, but they hit the story beats: Knight/Punk trying to out-alpha each other; Jey/Jimmy oscillating between synergy and static. Punk nails the GTS; Knight tags himself to steal the pin on Jey. Chef’s kiss character psychology: Knight can now crow about results, Punk can simmer about respect, and Jey eats another bitter pill—the exact kind Roman uses to “teach lessons.”

Result: Punk/Knight def. The Usos
Match rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Aftermath energy: Knight smirks, Punk seethes, Jey stares at the lights while Roman’s words echo. That’s storytelling.

✅ Roman tweener vibes the puppet master is at work with the Usos.
✅ Cody/Seth video package are Rock v Austin Level. Emotional!!!
✅ Iyo/Asuka/Kairi is a story of beautiful madness. Almost forgot about Rhea
✅ Punk/La Knight/Jey Uso 3 deserving world Champions with no real face involved.
✅ Raw - Go Home Shows have been lacking for months, great to see a show deliver.

❌ Maxxine clearly lacking confidence, but still her best match to date.
❌ Main Event felt rushed - only 7 minutes with a quick finish.
❌ Bayley story needs more explanation - She’s crazy…..but why?

⭐ Roman Reigns - Aura!
⭐ Dirty Dom - At this moment he can do now wrong, in the ring and timing are Gold!
⭐ La Knight - Tested by CM Punk tonight on the mic. Stood his ground

This was the kind of Raw that sends you into a PLE with talking points. Roman weaponized silence and suggestion; Jimmy & Jey frayed at the edges; Punk & Knight proved that winning together can still push them further apart. And yes—salute to Maxxine Dupri for the effort and the moment. If the rocket is real, a short NXT recalibration turns potential into inevitability.

Crown Jewel’s table is set. Now let’s eat.

Overall Show Rating: 8 / 10

The WWE legend believes Jacob deserves better. And honestly, he’s not wrong — Jacob Fatu’s momentum has cooled just when it should’ve been catching fire.

Rikishi isn’t holding back when it comes to his frustration with how WWE has handled Jacob Fatu’s run on SmackDown. Speaking candidly on his Don’t Call It a Comeback podcast, the Hall of Famer pointed the finger directly at WWE’s creative team for losing sight of what made “The Samoan Werewolf” such a breakout star in the first place.

Jacob burst onto the scene with an edge — dominant, charismatic, and unpredictable — capturing the United States Championship and standing toe-to-toe with Solo Sikoa in one of WWE’s hottest Bloodline-adjacent storylines of 2024. But after dropping the title and fading from the spotlight, Rikishi says the company’s creative direction “did a Houdini move.”

He believes the Drew McIntyre feud might finally help his son find his footing again, adding, “Jacob can work with absolutely anybody. If it’s done right, this can reset his trajectory.”

There’s no question Jacob has all the tools — presence, power, and a style that feels raw and dangerous in a way few on the roster can replicate. He’s a second-generation performer with real bite, but even Rikishi admits WWE hasn’t “lit the fuse” yet.

Behind the scenes, reports have surfaced that Jacob was once penciled in for a WrestleMania 41 showdown with Roman Reigns — a match that would’ve cemented his main-event status. Instead, after defeating LA Knight for the U.S. Title that spring, he found himself stuck in midcard purgatory.

Rikishi’s not wrong here — not even close. Jacob Fatu was the hottest rising name on SmackDown just a few months ago. His babyface turn against Solo was emotional, his title win felt earned, and his presence screamed “main event.” But since then? He’s felt adrift.

WWE has a habit of cooling off their biggest organic stars at the wrong moment, and Jacob’s a prime example. You can feel the fans still want to believe in him, but the creative hasn’t given them a reason to.

The Drew McIntyre feud needs to be the reset button. If WWE lets these two go full throttle — blending Drew’s intensity with Jacob’s chaos — it could reignite Fatu’s entire run and set the stage for something bigger down the road, maybe even that long-teased showdown with Roman Reigns.

Right now, Rikishi’s words aren’t bitterness — they’re a warning. WWE’s got a generational talent sitting in plain sight. It’s time to stop “teasing” and start building.

Crown Jewel Week Is Here — and This One’s Coming From Perth, Western Australia 🇦🇺

This Saturday, WWE takes over Optus Stadium in Perth for what’s shaping up to be one of the most unique Crown Jewel events ever. Because of the time zone difference, start times will look a little wild depending on where you’re watching from — with kickoff expected early in the morning for North American viewers, mid-afternoon for fans in Europe, and prime-time under the lights for those Down Under.

Set your alarms, grab the coffee, and be ready — Crown Jewel from Perth is almost here, and it’s going to hit different.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

What started as a passion project has grown into an incredible community of nearly 100,000 wrestling fans riding with MrTeshk. Your support, comments, and constant energy fuel this page every single day, and it is time to give something back.

To celebrate 100k on Facebook, we are running a special Shawn Michaels autographed memorabilia giveaway. Consider it a small thank you for helping turn this from a side project into one of the most passionate wrestling communities out there!

Stay tuned for full details on how to enter, and thank you for being part of the ride!

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mr.teshk

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