We are officially in that stretch of the calendar where everything feels louder, sharper, and more consequential, and this newsletter hits right in the middle of it. Darrion’s Drop leads the charge this week, taking a hard look at why WWE so often tightens up when the spotlight is brightest, and why that frustration is spilling all over the IWC as we march through 2026.

From the Stranger Things Raw fallout to WrestlePalooza hangover discourse, the conversation online has been relentless, and SmackDown Berlin only poured fuel on it. When WWE trusted the moment, trusted the crowd, and let the stakes breathe, the result was one of the most electric episodes of the year and a title change that reshaped the road ahead. That contrast is the story, and it is impossible to ignore right now.

We also round up the headlines you might have missed, from returns and statements to injuries that put everything in perspective. And when you think it is time to scroll away, do not. THE MEMES ARE BACK BABY, and they are waiting at the end like a victory lap. Stick with us all the way through, because this is exactly how 2026 is supposed to feel.

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

Here is the part that keeps nagging at me, especially as we head toward 2026. Why is it that when WWE has the biggest spotlight, the loudest buzz, and the most cultural momentum, the product so often shrinks instead of explodes?

Let us start with the Stranger Things themed Raw. Do not tell me you loved it. It was a dud. This is not about the main event botches that everyone online keeps spiraling over. Both guys recovered and the match itself was a banger. That was not the issue. The issue was everything surrounding it.

Netflix and TKO had lightning in a bottle. Stranger Things is one of the most culturally dominant shows of the last decade. The ending split fans, fueled endless debate, and left people searching for something to fill the void. Raw had weeks of advance notice. Weeks. This was not a last minute audible. This was a runway moment. Instead, we got set pieces, a rushed and unpolished feel, and an awkward opening monologue from Cole and Graves that felt like it belonged in a rehearsal, not on a flagship show with global eyes watching.

It did not mesh. It did not breathe. It did not feel confident.

That problem did not start or end there. WrestlePalooza followed the same pattern. A heavily branded event, hyped as must see, that landed flat. Viewership dipped. The Cena squash confused people instead of moving them. Matches felt cold and oddly paced. Online reaction was harsh, and honestly, deserved. The warning signs were obvious. This was another moment where WWE had the audience and the attention, yet chose to assume the pieces would fall into place on their own.

This is the pattern that drives fans insane. All eyes are on you. You have the buzz. You have the moment. Instead of swinging for the fences, WWE plays chess with itself and hopes the board solves the problem. Wow moments do not happen by accident. They are written, rehearsed, and paid off. Assuming they will simply occur is how you waste momentum.

MrTeshk nailed it in his Two Sense. If NXT being WWE’s best product heading into 2026 was on your bingo card, congratulations. That realization is spreading fast across the IWC. The irony is that this problem extends beyond WWE. UFC is feeling it too. The general consensus right now is that fans do not want to watch technical perfection stretched for twenty five minutes. They want urgency. They want energy. They want dopamine. They want action that feels consequential and violence that feels like it matters. The mold needs to change, and it needs to change quickly.

Now look at SmackDown in Berlin, because this actually strengthens the argument. SmackDown has struggled lately. Outside of the United States Championship and the men’s tag division, it has lacked identity. Yet when SmackDown goes live in Europe, at a time when much of the United States audience is asleep or watching on delay, it delivers one of the most electric shows of the year.

Why? Because the crowd mattered. Because the show trusted the moment. Because it let things breathe instead of rushing past them. That should concern people backstage. If your strongest episodes are happening when your core audience is not even watching live, that tells you something fundamental about what works and what does not.

Zooming out, there is a quiet realization settling in as we move toward 2026. NXT has become WWE’s most complete product, not just in match quality, but in vision, pacing, and long term execution. This is not nostalgia for the Black and Gold era. That version of NXT thrived on indie buzz and instant credibility. This version thrives on development done right.

Oba Femi feels monumental because he is finished. He was built patiently, without smoke or shortcuts. A final boss who now belongs on Raw or SmackDown without explanation. Je’Von Evans connects because NXT gave him reps and trust. Jordynne Grace feels important because she was treated as important. Trick Williams is no longer about potential. He is about timing, and the timing is right because the groundwork was done.

Even after call ups, NXT does not feel hollow. Shilo Hill fits immediately. Tony D’Angelo understands character and storytelling. Ricky Saints carries expectation and earns it. On the women’s side, the depth might be stronger than ever. Fallon Henley and Kendal Grey are not spinning wheels. They have arcs. They have stakes. Their matches exist for a reason.

Here is the uncomfortable truth. Raw and SmackDown use the same basic template as NXT. The format is not the issue. The roster is not the issue. The length is not the issue. Execution is the issue.

NXT commits to character progression. It commits to consequences. It commits to payoff. Nothing feels accidental. Even the misses feel intentional.

As WWE heads into 2026, the company does not need to reinvent itself. The blueprint already exists in house. The question is whether the main roster is willing to learn from it, or whether it will keep shrinking when the moment demands expansion.

That is the drop.

January 9, 2026
From Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany

A pivotal SmackDown that balanced chaos, momentum, and one massive title shift that officially reshaped the road to Royal Rumble season.

SmackDown’s European run continued with a loaded Berlin taping that felt intentionally dense. Nearly every segment either set a future domino in motion or paid off something that had been simmering for weeks. While not everything landed perfectly, the show absolutely delivered where it mattered most, and the main event ensured this episode will be remembered long after the tape delay faded.

🎤 Randy Orton, Trick Williams, and the opening collision of eras

Randy Orton’s “good to be back” energy was short and sweet, which was the correct call. This was not about nostalgia. It was about friction.

Trick Williams interrupting immediately framed him as someone who belongs, not someone waiting his turn. The exchange escalated quickly, and once physicality entered the picture, the segment stayed sharp. Miz attempting to steal the moment and eating an RKO reset the tone in the best way possible.

Orton and Rey Fenix sharing a respectful moment on the ramp subtly reinforced the night’s theme: the past and present colliding with the future watching closely.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾
Efficient, energetic, and set multiple threads in motion.

🔥 Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix introduces a new variable

This was exactly what Trick Williams needed in his first official SmackDown match. Rey Fenix gave him speed, unpredictability, and credibility. Trick winning with a tights-assisted pin told you everything about where this character is heading.

This was not a fluke win. It was a statement that Trick is willing to do what it takes on this roster.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Clean introduction with the right edge.

🏆 Giulia makes a statement as Women’s U.S. Champion

Giulia defending against Alexa Bliss felt less about the match and more about reinforcing hierarchy. Kiana James’ involvement, Lash Legend’s interference, and Nia Jax looming all painted a clear picture.

Giulia is not just holding the title. She is surrounded by sharks and aligned power.

Alexa never looked weak, but she also never felt like the focus. That matters.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Busy but purposeful.

🧠 Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre keep the tension boiling

Priest positioning himself as a future challenger added intrigue, but Drew McIntyre stole the segment with calculated venom. Bringing Dusty Rhodes’ pawned watch into the conversation was not subtle, and it was not supposed to be.

Drew was not trying to outwrestle Cody mentally. He was trying to unbalance him.

Segment impact: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strong psychological escalation.

🩸 The Wyatt Sicks vs. MFTs turns symbolic

This was not about match quality. This was about symbolism.

Solo Sikoa holding Bray Wyatt’s lantern hostage was a powerful visual, and the finish reinforced that the MFTs are not just another faction. They are willing to weaponize legacy.

The Wyatt Sicks losing here felt intentional, not damaging.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story-first booking executed correctly.

💪 Jordynne Grace arrives and immediately matters

Grace beating Alba Fyre decisively was the right introduction. No shortcuts. No flukes.

Chelsea Green’s frustration layered nicely, and Jade Cargill’s post-match confrontation made it very clear where Grace stands now that she is on SmackDown.

This was how you debut someone without overselling them.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Simple, effective, and forward-facing.

🏅 Carmelo Hayes keeps the U.S. Title rolling

Melo’s open challenge structure continues to work because it feels honest. Shinsuke Nakamura answering gave the match instant credibility, and Hayes retaining clean reinforced his position as a workhorse champion.

The handshake afterward mattered. Melo is not ducking anyone.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Reliable quality that continues elevating the title.

👑 Three Stages of Hell delivers a new champion

This was the reason the show existed.

Each fall told a different story. The low blow and exposed turnbuckle established Drew as ruthless. The Falls Count Anywhere brawl re-centered Cody as resilient. The Steel Cage brought chaos, desperation, and ultimately controversy.

Jacob Fatu’s involvement added shock without fully derailing the match, and Drew escaping the cage at the perfect moment was the kind of finish that fuels months of fallout.

Cody losing does not weaken him. Drew winning completes the arc he started weeks ago.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A violent, layered main event with real consequences.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 Drew McIntyre
🥈 Cody Rhodes
🥉 Carmelo Hayes

Final thoughts

This SmackDown did what strong European tour episodes should do. It advanced multiple stories, introduced new players with purpose, and delivered a main event that changed the landscape.

Not everything was clean, but nothing felt wasted.

Drew McIntyre leaving Berlin as champion was the right call, and the ripple effects from this show will be felt through Royal Rumble season and beyond.

Final Score: 8.25 / 10

🗞️ ICYMI: Jesse Ventura Speaks Out in Minnesota

Former Minnesota governor and wrestling icon Jesse Ventura criticized Donald Trump following ICE related incidents near his alma mater, Roosevelt High School. Ventura called recent leadership a threat to the Constitution, citing January 6 as a turning point.

He also addressed the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman during an ICE operation, calling the loss of life a needless tragedy while praising the students and staff for standing their ground.

📺 ICYMI: AJ Styles Returns to TNA for AMC Debut

As he prepares for his final year in WWE, AJ Styles is heading home. Styles will appear on TNA Impact for its live AMC debut on January 15.

It marks another milestone return after his Slammiversary 2025 appearance and gives TNA a major name to anchor its new era.

👕 ICYMI: CM Punk Addresses Viral T Shirt Spot

CM Punk pushed back on claims that he was trolling Kevin Nash during a viral house show moment where he revealed a second shirt mid match.

Punk said the bit was simple. It was meant to make his opponent laugh. House shows are for having fun, and not everything needs a deeper read.

🩺 ICYMI: Elton Prince Undergoes Neck Fusion Surgery

Elton Prince revealed he recently underwent a two level neck fusion following a scary in ring injury last spring. The update explains why Kit Wilson has been appearing solo on SmackDown.

Prince shared that his focus is now recovery, family, and eventually returning to the ring. The Straight Shoot wishes him a full and healthy comeback. ⭐

Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

P.S. not signed up yet?
SUBSCRIBE HERE for raw takes and no-filter wrestling talk multiple times a week.