Good evening, wrestling fans 👊

Tonight’s drop is lean and loaded. Darrion’s Drop revisits Rob Van Dam’s 2006 implosion — from dual champ to suspension in 48 hours — and how it derailed ECW’s revival. On Raw, CM Punk defined his title reign, The Vision flexed, and Rey Mysterio’s return put real heart back into the IC picture. Tag gold stayed with AJ Styles & Dragon Lee, while over in Orlando NXT clicked: Kelani Jordan’s heel turn has teeth, Fatal Influence look main-roster ready, and Je’Von Evans stole the show. Plus, do not miss our John Cena PSA 9 Prizm autograph giveaway as we count down to his farewell.

P.S. Want to listen instead? Hit Listen Online at the top right of your email.

By Darrion Axel | Straight Shoot UNFILTERED

Back in July 2006, Rob Van Dam was untouchable.
He had just made history by holding both the WWE Championship and the ECW Championship at the same time. The ECW revival was built around him. The crowds were electric, the locker room was behind him, and Vince McMahon had finally found his bridge between the old ECW faithful and the new generation of fans.

RVD was the guy.

Then one night changed everything.

After a WWE/ECW live event in Huntington, West Virginia, RVD and his longtime friend Sabu hit the road back through Ohio. Somewhere along the highway, the flashing lights appeared in the rearview. Pulled over for speeding, officers claimed they smelled marijuana. What followed became one of wrestling’s most infamous moments — a quick search, a few bad decisions, and headlines that would rock the entire industry.

Both men were arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They made bail that same night, but by morning the damage was done. Word spread fast. By the next day, the entire WWE office was in panic mode. This wasn’t a midcarder caught breaking the rules. This was the double champion, the face of ECW, the man Vince had just built an entire brand around.

In less than 48 hours, everything collapsed. RVD lost the WWE Title to Edge on Raw. The next night, he dropped the ECW Title to Big Show after Paul Heyman turned on him. Then came the suspension. The golden run was over before it ever had a chance to breathe.

From two belts and two brands to off TV and off the map, all in a matter of days.

RVD would later reflect on it simply:

Sabu, ever the wildcard, was less concerned.

But for WWE, it was no laughing matter. That single night in July 2006 didn’t just end the biggest push of Rob Van Dam’s career — it ended the soul of ECW’s revival.

🔥 The Drop?
One of the most gifted wrestlers of his era had it all: the fans, the gold, the momentum, and the movement. And in one bad night, it all went up in smoke.

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.

“The Champ Speaks, The Vision Strikes, and Rey Mysterio Steals the Moment”

By MrTeshk

CM Punk didn’t just celebrate his title win — he defined it. His “earned vs. deserved” line turned into a mission statement, framing him as the grounded, adult champion who values work over worship. Thanking AJ Lee and the fans felt genuine, but the standout moment was his respect for Jey Uso — acknowledging Jey as a real main eventer and hoping they stay cool after Saturday’s war.

Then came the pivot. Punk spun the belt “for Seth,” a perfect callback that honored history without living in it. His challenger roll call — Styles, Dom, JD, Balor, Sheamus, Cena — set the tone: this is a fighting champion, not a placeholder. The Logan Paul interruption added instant heat, but the escalation hit when Heyman led The Vision out, with Breakker promising “to keep it warm for me” before Reed flattened Logan with a Tsunami. Punk’s chair save closed the loop — classic territory booking with modern chaos.

Why it landed: Punk feels like a leader, not just a titleholder. Breakker reads as his first real threat, and Logan’s involvement guarantees noise leading into WarGames season.

Winners: Perez pins Nikki with Pop Rox (12:46)
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: B

Strong layout, uneven execution. Vaquer controlled early with precision, Perez provided the pace, and Raquel’s misplaced strike on Nikki gave the finish purpose. Judgment Day’s women regained some heat, while Nikki’s return arc still feels a step behind today’s tempo. Post-match, Vaquer looked focused; Nikki looked frustrated.

Setups: Raquel’s earned another shot at Vaquer, and Perez continues her opportunistic streak.

Segment Grade: B+

A simple visual — the tumbler draw — but effective. The prize? A match against John Cena in his final bout. Announced openers: Rusev vs. Damian Priest and Nakamura vs. Sheamus next week, with the rest revealed Friday. Clean stakes, long-term potential, and real buzz.

Segment Grade: B

Subtle, not staged. Jey approached Punk with mutual respect, and Punk’s “am I talking to Jey Uso or Little Roman?” landed with wit, not venom. It set up tonight’s tag as partnership through necessity — not friendship — which paid off when the match imploded later.

Winner: Penta via middle-rope Mexican Destroyer (10:24)
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: B-

The crowd loved Penta and he delivered — sharp, explosive, fearless. The Americano act needs a refresh; the gag’s losing juice. Mid-match ejections helped, and Penta’s win rebuilt momentum after his SNME loss. Americano, though, needs either a pivot or an unmasking soon.

Segment Grade: B

Perfectly produced. Asuka calling herself “the one true legend” reframes the division around legacy, not just gold. Sane’s “be thankful” jab at Bayley gives their chase purpose. Minimal time, maximum setup.

Segment Grade: A

Home turf. Huge reaction. Rey’s measured promo invoked El Santo, Blue Demon, and Eddie — while Dom claimed he made “Mysterio” relevant. The tension was surgical: Dom’s arrogance made sense in his own twisted logic. The 619 tease got thunder, but the restraint made it better. No brawl, no waste — just anticipation. The Intercontinental title scene now has emotional stakes again, and Rey’s return could easily tie into Cena’s farewell tournament.

Segment Grade: B+

Heel Becky is surgical. Her takedown of Maxxine Dupri was both mean and needed. The “lifelong student” line emphasized skill over spectacle, and her subtle stare-down with the Kabuki Warriors hinted at intersecting feuds. Layered, confident, efficient.

Winners: Kabuki Warriors via Asuka Lock on Valkyria (14:07)
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: B+

Textbook tag storytelling. Bayley & Lyra clicked with classic power tandem beats; Kabuki countered with vicious precision. The finish — Lyra colliding into Bayley before Asuka’s Lock — was clean and clever. Post-match, Charlotte & Alexa’s quick sprint-in promised next week’s title clash without wasting contact. Smart restraint, great build.

Segment Grade: B

Finn and JD laser-focused on the tag belts; Raquel and Roxanne called out Dom’s chaos. The shillelagh prop handoff doubled as a test — one Dom instantly failed. Great connective storytelling that fueled the tag title finish later.

AJ Styles & Dragon Lee (c) def. Finn Balor & JD McDonagh
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: A-

Fast, fluid, and full of purpose. Dragon Lee’s early fire, AJ’s control sequences, and JD’s chaos made this sing. Balor’s accidental Coup de Grace on JD was the perfect implosion trigger. Sheamus wrecking Dom at ringside and AJ sealing it with the Styles Clash tied every thread together. Champions retain, Judgment Day fractures, Sheamus vs. Dom heats up. Perfect middle-hour crescendo.

Segment Grade: B

Simple but effective. Nikki admitted doubt, Vaquer gave her credit, and the segment turned Nikki’s return into story instead of spectacle. It humanized both women and positioned Vaquer as the quiet locker-room general her division needs.

Segment Grade: B+

Vintage Heyman. Sweet words, hidden barbs. Admitting he “held The Vision back” during Saturday’s chaos wasn’t guilt — it was bait. His final line, “You have a vision of your own… and I like it,” was both praise and trap. Foreshadowing perfection.

Result: Double Count-Out (10:15)
Match Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Segment Grade: B- (angle > finish)

Explosive action, smart protection. Punk hit his classic notes, Jey’s hot tag popped the crowd, and The Vision looked monstrous. The double count-out was fine booking — you protect Punk’s aura and keep Breakker/Reed hot before WarGames.

Post-match: Breakker speared Jey through a table, Reed hit the Tsunami, Punk swung the chair — then Logan Paul revealed brass knuckles, flooring Punk before handing them to Heyman. The visual alliance drew instant heat. Mission accomplished.

⭐ Nikki & Vaquer vs. Perez & Raquel: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Penta vs. El Grande Americano: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Kabuki Warriors vs. Bayley & Lyra: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐ World Tag Titles: ⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Main Event: ⭐⭐⭐

Overall Score: 8.5 / 10 — Very Good.

Raw balanced muscle and meaning. Punk’s opening defined a reign, Rey’s return reignited passion, and the tag division delivered a masterclass. The main event finished flat by design, but the chaos afterward hit every note.

The Vision feels like the future. Punk feels like the leader WWE needed. And with Cena’s farewell tournament about to begin, Monday nights just became appointment television.

“Six-Woman spark, Kelani turns cold, Je’Von cooks.”
By MrTeshk

Six-Woman Sprint Sets the Table
Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame & Lola Vice vs Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid)
Result: Jacy pins Izzi with the Rolling Encore (10:39)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why it hit: Right opener, right winner. Fatal Influence looked polished and mean, and the finish advanced Culling tension without melodrama. Tatum’s hot tag popped, and Izzi’s “protector” act backfired, keeping the “genuine or gaming” question hot. Lainey Reid’s timing keeps improving. Fast-track FI after Gold Rush.

Heel Pillar Laid: Kelani Jordan’s Turn Has Teeth
Segment Grade: A-
Kelani finally locked a clear heel identity: call out hypocrisy, reject open-door defenses, and set her own dates. Santino books a Triple Threat at Gold Rush (Kelani vs Lei Ying Lee vs Jordynne Grace). Let Kelani win by edge again to cement the lane.

Briggs vs El Grande Americano
Result: Americano submits Briggs after Los Americanos assist (10:49)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Americano’s character refresh lands: big frame, athletic spots, clown when he wants, closer when he chooses. Mask-pull tease = easy heat. Briggs is protected, but he needs a clear direction next week.

Women’s Speed Tournament
Zaria (w/ Sol) vs Wren Sinclair (w/ Kendal Grey)
Result: Zaria wins via Spear → F-5 (2:31)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Compact, violent, efficient. Zaria wrestled like the favorite and Wren bumped clean. The bracket is doing its job.

Spotlight: Kendal Grey is the Real Deal
Segment Grade: A-
Broadcast presence, footwork, poise. Even in short beats she screams “trust me with minutes.” Kendal vs Zaria is money TV, and a Speed title chase soon would not be too soon.

TNA Knockouts Non-Title
Kelani Jordan def. Tyra Mae Steele
Result: Split-leg moonsault (4:58)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Straightforward statement match backing up the promo. Tyra showed tools; this needed Kelani dominance and delivered it.

Match of the Night: Je’Von Evans vs Saquon Shugars
Result: Evans wins with a moonsault after surviving DarkState interference (13:32)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This cooked. Evans = pace, precision, composure. Shugars = presence, body control, live-round strikes. Too much run-in, but Je’Von out-maneuvering three bodies kept him shining and elevated Saquon’s menace. Run it back with a stip and minimal traffic.

Split-Screen Heat: Trick vs Ricky (Last Man Standing Hype)
Segment Grade: B+
Clean stakes, crisp barbs, pipe shot visual to close. Keep it hate + hardware + title. Next week should be violence with pacing, not stunt spam.

Mixed-Tag Chaos: Ethan Page & Chelsea Green Celebrate (and get caked)
Segment Grade: B
Light dessert, did the job. Page/Green waved the AAA props, Joe Hendry appeared, Thea Hail popped the crowd with the cake splash. Use this to give Thea ring reps and Hendry weekly mic time.

Gold: Je’Von Evans
Silver: Saquon Shugars
Bronze: Kelani Jordan

NXT moved multiple chess pieces with purpose. Fatal Influence stamped “call-up soon,” Kelani’s heel turn clicked, Evans vs Saquon delivered, and Kendal Grey looked like tomorrow. Trim the interference and define Briggs, and you are flirting with an 8.5.

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.
Stream every strike, stare down, and surprise return from anywhere in the world.

🔗 Ditch ESPN, Get NORDVPN HERE!

Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

P.S. Got this forwarded to you?
SUBSCRIBE HERE for raw takes and no-filter wrestling talk multiple times a week.