This one lands before Raw on purpose, because tonight is a full Straight Shoot night and it all ties together in real time. The newsletter sets the tone, and MrTeshk going live on stream during Raw is where it continues. If you are reading this now, you are already ahead of the curve.

At the heart of this drop is MrTeshk’s Two Sense, centered on moments that quietly tell you when the work is landing. From Rhea Ripley engaging with our coverage to the Raheem line that instantly became part of the discourse, it is a sharp look at awareness, confidence, and stars who know how to speak to the audience without breaking character. It is thoughtful, layered, and very on brand for what we do here.

You will also find MrTeshk’s SmackDown review, breaking down a post-Rumble episode that clarified the landscape. Drew McIntyre reasserting himself as the standard, momentum shifting across divisions, and the early pressure of WrestleMania season starting to show.

To pull it all together, Darrion’s Best of the Week runs through the moments that actually mattered. Roman and Punk. Liv’s rise. Drew reclaiming space. NXT crowning a new champion. The names that feel inevitable as Elimination Chamber approaches.

And before you tap out, do not miss the latest YouTube video with Jack and Steve, diving into the debate around wrestlers who were already legends before WWE and still managed to build iconic runs inside it. Real opinions, real disagreement, and the kind of conversation this community thrives on.

This is one of those nights where everything overlaps.
The takes are fresh.
The stream is live.
And Straight Shoot is right in the middle of it.

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There are moments in wrestling fandom that feel bigger than algorithms, bigger than likes, and bigger than numbers. They are the quiet taps on the shoulder that tell you the work is landing where it matters. This week, Straight Shoot Unfiltered had two of those moments, and they are worth sitting with for a second.

Rhea Ripley liked one of our review clips.
Cody Rhodes followed us.

On paper, those are small interactions. In reality, they say a lot.

Rhea Ripley is not just one of the top women in WWE right now. She is one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, full stop. Her rise from NXT UK to the centerpiece of the main roster has been deliberate, earned, and undeniable. Multi time world champion. Royal Rumble winner. Grand Slam and Triple Crown champion. A performer trusted to headline the biggest shows, carry the heaviest stories, and elevate everyone who steps in the ring with her.

What separates Rhea from most of her peers is not just the résumé. It is her ability to define moments. WrestleMania wins that still echo. Feuds that feel important because she is in them. A presence that does not rely on a title to feel massive. Her look, her cadence, her confidence, and her physicality make her instantly recognizable, not just to wrestling fans but to mainstream audiences as well.

She is a centerpiece, not a cog.

So when someone like Rhea Ripley engages with a piece of analysis, it hits differently. It is not validation in the ego sense. It is confirmation that thoughtful wrestling conversation still reaches the people inside the bubble, not just those shouting outside of it.

Then there is Cody Rhodes.

SmackDown this past week was supposed to be about fallout from Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Instead, Cody slid into the discourse with one perfectly timed line and reminded everyone why he is always part of the conversation. When he said, “People know what WrestleMania means to me, and what I mean to WrestleMania,” that was not bravado. That was résumé talk. That was a top star calmly stating his place in the ecosystem.

Then came the moment that lit the internet on fire. The Raheem line.

What made it work was not the joke itself. It was the awareness. Cody acknowledged years of online discourse, cultural nods, and running jokes in one smooth sentence, on live television, without derailing the story or losing credibility. The Usos laughing in real time told you everything you needed to know. This was not cringe. This was confidence.

Cody Rhodes understands something many top stars never fully grasp. You can be self aware without being self parody. You can nod to the audience without pandering. You can control the narrative instead of letting it control you.

That is why the follow did not go unnoticed.

Not because it is a flex, but because it reinforces the same point Rhea’s engagement does. The best performers in the business pay attention to the conversation when it is rooted in respect, context, and actual love for the craft.

This is what Straight Shoot Unfiltered has always aimed to be. Not outrage bait. Not hot take farming. Real reactions. Real analysis. Real appreciation for what works and honest critique of what does not.

From Rhea to Raheem, these moments are reminders that wrestling is still a dialogue. Not just between fans online, but between the people in the ring and the people watching closely enough to understand why it matters.

And yes, we see you too.

Date: Friday, February 7, 2026
📍 Spectrum Center — Charlotte, North Carolina
🎙 Commentary: Michael Cole & Wade Barrett
🗣 Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
🛣 Road to Elimination Chamber: February 28, 2026 (Chicago)

Coming out of the Royal Rumble, SmackDown felt like a brand officially entering WrestleMania season. Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan won their Rumbles, Drew McIntyre survived Sami Zayn in Saudi Arabia, and the locker room came in hot knowing opportunities are narrowing fast.

This episode largely delivered that urgency, even if a few segments leaned more functional than explosive.

💥 Opening Chaos: Cody Rhodes Attacks Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre barely made it to the aisle with the Undisputed WWE Championship before Cody Rhodes jumped him from behind. Ring post shots, barricade chaos, and security scrambling set the tone immediately.

Drew escaped with the title while officials restrained Cody, framing the dynamic perfectly: Cody wants payback, Drew wants survival.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A fast, violent opener that immediately re-centered the SmackDown title picture.

🎤 Let’s Hear From Cody Rhodes

Cody followed up the attack with a fired-up promo, speaking like a man who knows WrestleMania season waits for no one. He referenced Drew eliminating him at the Rumble, acknowledged Roman and Punk setting the industry on fire, and made his intentions clear.

Drew is not making it to WrestleMania if Cody has anything to say about it.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Focused, emotional, and positioned Cody as a desperate contender rather than a polished politician.

🏆 WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky (c) vs. Giulia & Kiana James

Giulia and Kiana looked sharp and cohesive, with moments where they felt like legitimate threats. Once Ripley got the hot tag, the building shifted immediately. Her presence right now is undeniable.

Winners: Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky (retain)
Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Strong title match that reinforced Ripley as the gravitational force of the division.

🎯 Carmelo Hayes vs. The Miz

Miz did enough to keep things competitive, but the match was designed to keep momentum squarely with Hayes. Smooth finishing sequence, clean win, and the United States Championship picture continues to feel healthy.

Winner: Carmelo Hayes
Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Solid television wrestling that keeps Hayes moving forward without overexposure.

⛓ Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier
Tiffany Stratton vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lash Legend

Chelsea played the character role well, Lash looked destructive, and Tiffany moved like someone WWE clearly wants on the WrestleMania card. The structure was smart and the right woman advanced.

Winner: Tiffany Stratton (qualifies)
Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Efficient triple threat that served its purpose and elevated Stratton.

☣️ Oba Femi Deletes Kit Wilson

Kit Wilson talked. Oba Femi answered. The match barely existed and that was the point.

Winner: Oba Femi
Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick, brutal, and effective monster presentation.

🧨 Drew McIntyre Gets Interrupted Again: Jacob Fatu Explodes

Drew attempted to finally speak, only for Jacob Fatu to arrive like a natural disaster. Hip attacks, bodies flying, security flattened. Total chaos.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Fatu’s violence landed harder because it came without warning.

👑 Liv Morgan Promo and WrestleMania Teases

Liv Morgan leaned fully into the confident Rumble winner role, flanked by Raquel Rodriguez and teasing her WrestleMania choice. Jade Cargill interrupted, Jordynne Grace followed, and Nick Aldis booked the inevitable tag match.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Slow-burn storytelling that keeps Liv’s decision feeling important.

🤝 Tag Match
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Jade Cargill & Jordynne Grace

The match focused on uneasy alliances and future tension rather than pure competition. Jordynne gaining momentum mattered more than the win itself.

Winners: Jade Cargill & Jordynne Grace
Match rating: ⭐️⭐️½
Functional setup match that pushed the right pieces forward.

🔥 PROMO OF THE NIGHT: Drew McIntyre Reclaims the Narrative

After Roman Reigns and CM Punk dominated Monday night and treated the WWE Championship like second place, Drew responded the only way that fits his character.

He did not complain.
He did not beg for respect.
He reminded everyone who carried the company when the world shut down.

Calling Punk “Fragile Phil.”
Calling out Roman’s reliance on the Bloodline.
Standing on the table and declaring war.

This was not a challenger promo. This was a champion drawing a line.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A definitive Undisputed WWE Champion statement.

🧊 Main Event: Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier (Triple Threat)
Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black (w/ Zelina Vega) vs. Solo Sikoa

The best match on the show. Orton fought uphill as the lone babyface, Black looked lethal, Solo brought power, and the finish was clean and well-timed.

Winner: Randy Orton (qualifies)
Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
High-quality main event that earned its spot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 Drew McIntyre
🥈 Randy Orton
🥉 Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky

Final Thoughts

SmackDown delivered a strong post-Rumble episode with multiple stories moving forward at once. Cody is chasing Drew, Jacob Fatu is pure chaos, the women’s division continues stacking contenders, and Orton punched another Chamber ticket.

But the night belonged to Drew McIntyre.

After being dismissed in the Roman and Punk conversation, he walked out and reminded everyone that he does not need approval.

He is the standard.

WrestleMania season is officially here, and you can feel the squeeze. Post Rumble fallout, Elimination Chamber qualifiers, new champions, and the kind of chaos that only happens when the calendar starts closing doors.

Here is the quick hit rundown of the moments that mattered most, then we jump into the weekly awards.

💥 Top Moments Mini Review

1️⃣ Roman Reigns wins the Men’s Royal Rumble
Big, decisive, and built like a main event chess match. Roman eliminating Gunther clean was the statement.

2️⃣ Liv Morgan wins the Women’s Royal Rumble
Calculated heel work for an hour plus, and now the division has volatility again. Liv as the chaos queen is the right kind of dangerous.

3️⃣ Roman Reigns chooses CM Punk on Raw
The stare, the spite, the legacy talk. This was WrestleMania level. No gimmicks needed.

4️⃣ Drew McIntyre reclaims the narrative on SmackDown
After being treated like second place in the Roman and Punk conversation, Drew snapped back like a champion should. Fragile Phil line. Bloodline callout. Table stand. War declaration.

5️⃣ NXT crowns a new champion
The ladder match did the heavy lifting, and Joe Hendry as NXT Champion instantly resets the brand around someone fans will rally behind.

👑 Best of the Week

👑 Men’s Wrestler of the Week: Roman Reigns
He did not just win the Rumble, he re-entered the center of WWE. The finish mattered, the presence felt cinematic, and choosing Punk immediately locked the road to WrestleMania.

💎 Women’s Wrestler of the Week: Liv Morgan
Rumble win, character consistency, and a division that now has a real wildcard again. Liv is not playing underdog. She is playing disruptor, and it is working.

🏆 Match of the Week: AJ Styles vs Gunther
Career stakes. Violence with purpose. A finish that left emotional weight in the air. This felt important. That is the highest compliment.

🎤 Segment of the Week: Roman Reigns chooses CM Punk
This was elite. Punk framed himself as the fighting champion. Roman framed Punk as a guest in Roman’s era. Then Roman picked him out of spite and legacy. Instant main event.

🔥 Promo of the Week: Drew McIntyre
Drew did not beg for respect. He reminded everyone who carried the company when it mattered, then drew the line. This was championship energy.

📈 Breakout of the Week: Lash Legend
The women’s Rumble made it clear. She is not a prospect anymore. She is a problem. Stock up.

🧨 Most Dangerous Presence: Oba Femi
Rumble monster showing, then immediate weekly-TV destruction. Oba does not wrestle matches, he ends conversations.

🎟️ Who to Watch This Week
👀 Jacob Fatu
Every time he shows up, the temperature changes. He feels like an unscheduled disaster.

👀 Carmelo Hayes
The U.S. Title picture stays healthy because Melo wrestles like it matters.

👀 Joe Hendry
New champion glow, new targets, and NXT needs a centerpiece. He fits.

👀 Tiffany Stratton
Chamber qualifier win and WWE clearly wants her on the WrestleMania card. Watch the acceleration.

💭 Final Take
This week was about positioning the board, but the energy is rising. Roman vs Punk is locked. Liv is looming. Drew is fighting to stay relevant in a conversation he refuses to be left out of. NXT has a new flag bearer.

And now the Chamber race begins.

Legends Before WWE? Let’s Talk About It

AJ Styles was a made man long before he ever stepped foot in WWE. A worldwide star who walked into the biggest company in wrestling and somehow built a second Hall of Fame level career on top of the first.

But here is the real debate.

How many wrestlers can honestly say they did the same thing?

In this episode of Straight Shoot Unfiltered, Jack and Steve go back and forth breaking down which wrestlers were already legends before WWE and still managed to cement iconic runs once they got there. Who truly belongs in that rare air, who gets overrated in hindsight, and where AJ Styles actually ranks all time when you look at the full picture.

This one sparks real debate, and there are no easy answers.

☝️ Watch the full episode on YouTube and jump into the comments
Let us know who you think belongs on that list.

Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

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