Hello 👋 Welcome to another edition of Straight Shoot UNFILTERED!

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From John Cena’s emotional farewell to AJ Lee shocking the world, WWE stacked the deck in Chicago … and the crowd made sure every second mattered.

Friday night wasn’t just another stop on the calendar, it was a statement. SmackDown rolled into Chicago and delivered one of the most memorable shows of the year. Cena said goodbye, Brock Lesnar set the stage for Wrestlepalooza, and AJ Lee made a return that blew the roof off the building.

Here are the Top 5 Moments: rated, reviewed, and unfiltered.

Top 5 Moments from SmackDown in Chicago (Rated & Reviewed)

Cena walked into Chicago one final time on SmackDown, and the emotion was undeniable. Two decades of history poured out in every word, every pause, and every chant that rained down. Then Sami Zayn stepped up, giving the legend one last meaningful fight before he walks away. Goosebumps.

Crowd Reaction: ★★★★★ (Chicago worshipped him, and the timing with Zayn only fueled it.)

Match Quality/Segment Quality: ★★★★☆ (Didn’t need wrestling here, the moment was enough.)

Storyline Impact: ★★★★☆ (Closed a chapter while opening another with Sami.)

Cena and Zayn went to war. Big moves, believable near falls, and a rhythm that felt like a passing of the torch. But, Lesnar had other plans. Two F5s later, the fairytale was gone, but the road to Cena vs. Lesnar is locked in for Wrestlepalooza.

Crowd Reaction: ★★★★★ (Every move hit, every near fall had the building shaking.)

Match Quality: ★★★★★ (Would’ve been an instant classic without the interruption.)

Storyline Impact: ★★★★★ (Cemented Lesnar vs. Cena as the draw.)

Before Priest could even breathe, Black dropped him with a pre-match ambush. Priest fought with fire - nearly putting Black through the announce desk - but, Black’s precision strikes closed the show. It wasn’t about the length, it was about the message: Black is back, and he’s dangerous.

Crowd Reaction: ★★★☆☆ (Solid but not electric … audience was still recovering from Cena/Lesnar.)

Match Quality: ★★★★☆ (Good pace, brutal finish, but not a show-stealer.)

Storyline Impact: ★★★★☆ (Black feels like a real threat again.)

Michin threw bombs, and for a moment, it felt like she might steal the title. But Giulia had backup. Kiana James interfered, preserved the reign, then doubled down with a post-match beatdown. The champ keeps her gold, but Kiana’s stock skyrockets.

Crowd Reaction: ★★☆☆☆ (Match was strong, but fans weren’t fully invested yet.)

Match Quality: ★★★☆☆ (Had bursts of intensity but never hit that extra gear.)

Storyline Impact: ★★★★☆ (Shifted focus to Kiana, who’s now a player in this division.)

The loudest reaction of the night. Becky and Seth were basking in their heat, Punk was teasing the crowd, and then - BOOM. AJ Lee returned, the arena went insane, and Becky sold it like she’d been hit by a truck. Punk and AJ standing tall in Chicago felt like a moment frozen in time.

Crowd Reaction: ★★★★★+ (Nuclear. One of the loudest pops in years.)

Match/Segment Quality: ★★★★★ (Didn’t need wrestling - pure star power.)

Storyline Impact: ★★★★★ (Changed the trajectory of the Punk/Rollins-Becky feud instantly.)

MrTeshk’s Final Scorecard

SmackDown in Chicago was appointment viewing.

Best Match: Cena vs. Sami (even with the Lesnar finish).

Biggest Pop: AJ Lee’s return - by a mile.

Most Important Angle: Lesnar setting up Cena’s Wrestlepalooza sendoff.

Overall: 9.5/10 - This wasn’t a regular show, it was an era-defining night.

Former WWE star Matt Riddle has once again found himself at the center of controversy after insulting CM Punk’s wife, AJ Lee, during an interview. The remarks were baseless, crude, and instantly lit up the Internet Wrestling Community.

What Fans Are Saying …

The IWC did not hold back:

“The more he talks, the easier it is to understand why he got fired.”

“The guy had it all but threw it away because he’s just an absolute moron.”

“He’s a toxic mess. Sounds like the asshole at parties.”

“He makes Forrest Gump look smarter.”

“This is car crash behavior. Someone get him help before he ODs in a hotel room.”

Many pointed to his history of missed opportunities, addiction issues, and unprofessional behavior. Some compared him to “this generation’s Val Venis” or even a less entertaining version of Enzo Amore. Others noted his pattern of burning bridges and sabotaging himself with every public appearance.

The Bigger Picture

Riddle’s comments not only come off as attention-seeking but also highlight how far he has fallen since his UFC days and promising WWE run with Randy Orton. Fans described him as desperate for relevance, with some even saying WWE’s decision to cut ties looks like one of their smartest moves in years.

At the end of the day, the consensus is clear: Riddle’s self-destructive antics have overshadowed his talent, and targeting AJ Lee and CM Punk only cements his decline.

Do you think Riddle is beyond redemption, or can he pull a rebound if he ever gets serious?

Could WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton’s next WrestleMania moment come with a chart-topping soundtrack?

In a recent appearance on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Stratton revealed her dream entrance for the “Showcase of the Immortals”: a live performance from none other than Sabrina Carpenter. Not just her current theme, either - Stratton wants the pop star to craft an entirely new track to debut live on the grandest stage.

“Sabrina Carpenter would be so cool. She’s really hot right now,” Stratton said. “I’d want her to create my own entrance music and perform it at WrestleMania. Sabrina, if you’re listening, let’s make this happen.”

Celebrity tie-ins at WrestleMania are nothing new. CM Punk had Living Colour, Damian Priest was played out by Slayer’s Kerry King, and countless stars before them have turned entrances into unforgettable moments. But with Carpenter currently dominating the music scene, a Tiffany x Sabrina link-up could be the kind of crossover that breaks through even beyond WWE’s fanbase.

Whether WWE makes it happen remains to be seen - but Stratton is clearly manifesting her star-making moment.

Here are some of your favorite WWE Superstars without Makeup!

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Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

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