This newsletter kicks off with a major moment for Straight Shoot as the OVW x CSN era officially begins. This was not just another stream or a box checked. It was a statement about where we are headed in 2026. Ohio Valley Wrestling is riding real momentum coming out of Nightmare Rumble, and partnering with a promotion that helped shape modern wrestling made this debut feel important from the first bell. Intimate venue, loud crowd, no wasted motion. Independent wrestling exactly the way it is supposed to feel.

From there, we roll straight into a stacked week of reviews that will be hitting your inbox live during SmackDown tonight for our US subscribers. Raw, NXT, TNA, and everything in between, all in real time, all with the reactions and context you want heading into the weekend. This is one of those drops where staying locked in matters, because the stories are moving fast and the landscape is shifting just as quickly.

Between the OVW launch, international shows heating up, and brands clearly planting flags for the rest of the year, this feels like the first true sprint of 2026. Buckle up, keep this one open during SmackDown, and do not blink. We are just getting started.

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

This was not just a stream.
This was a statement.

Straight Shoot officially went live with Ohio Valley Wrestling and CSN, and the timing could not have been better. Fresh off Nightmare Rumble, OVW is rolling with momentum, and partnering with a company that helped shape modern professional wrestling made this debut feel meaningful from the opening bell.

The vibe said it all.
Intimate venue. Loud crowd. Zero wasted motion.

This is independent wrestling the way it is supposed to feel. Fans were locked in, every near fall mattered, and the energy never dipped. You could feel it through the screen. This mattered.

And this is only the beginning.

🎤 New OVW talent interviews drop next week
📺 More live coverage. More access. More stories
🚀 Straight Shoot taking you closer than ever before

Make sure you are subscribed and following the Straight Shoot Unfiltered YouTube channel (62k followers), because this partnership is just heating up and you will want a front row seat for what comes next.

January 12, 2026
From PSD Bank Dome, Düsseldorf, Germany
A slick international Raw with strong wrestling and one elite main event, even if the Rumble urgency still feels weirdly muted.

Raw in Düsseldorf had that “international TV special” shine. Hot crowd, clean pacing, and a main event that felt premium. The only thing missing was that unmistakable “Royal Rumble season is here” heartbeat. We are close enough that the show should feel like a sprint, and this one still felt like a very good stop on a tour.

🎥 Opening presentation

WWE opened with highlights from last week, and that ended up being the theme of the night: steady forward motion, but quietly. The building sounded up for it, the camera work looked big-league, and the show had a clean energy.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good vibe, just missing that Rumble urgency pulse.

🏆 Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky open the show, “Monday Night Ryo” energy

Rhea and Iyo came out like champions who know they are the center of the division. Ripley leaned into the identity, Iyo matched her confidence, and the crowd treated the titles like they mattered.

Then the division poured into the ring. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez claimed unfinished business, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria made their case, and the Kabuki Warriors helped turn it into a quick, controlled mess. Short segment, smart goal: establish that nobody is waiting politely.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Fast, effective, and set up the rest of the night cleanly.

🔥 Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano

Je’Von is one of those talents who instantly tilts a crowd forward. This was not trying to be a classic. It was a showcase that confirmed he belongs on Raw, even on an international stage.

He got the clean win with the OG Cutter, then the post-match jump by the Americanos gave him immediate friction. That matters, because it keeps him from becoming “cool new guy with no direction.”

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Statement match with a smart aftermath.

🧢 Jey Uso “Uce-eldorf” check-in

Pure crowd service. Jey gave the people their moment, Düsseldorf gave him the love back, and it moved on.

Nothing wrong with it, but it was light on substance.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️
Fun pop, little consequence.

🎤 CM Punk & Finn Bálor set the table for Belfast

This was the most “we are heading somewhere” promo segment on the entire show.

Punk sounded like a champion aware of the calendar, framing Rumble and Chamber as looming threats and presenting himself as the roadblock to WrestleMania season. Finn did the important part by making it personal without turning it into noise, and calling his shot for Belfast is a clean hook.

The only missing ingredient is momentum. A stronger singles run for Finn leading into it would make this feel less like geography and more like inevitability.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Strong direction-setting, and the Belfast hook landed.

🥇 Triple Threat Women’s Tag No. 1 Contender match

Kabuki Warriors vs. Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

This match flew. Triple threat chaos in the best way: everybody got shine, the nearfalls were believable, and the crowd stayed with the pace.

The finish was the key. Liv making the blind tag and stealing the pin was veteran heel work that immediately makes the title match feel cleaner. Now Rhea and Iyo have a real villain team to fight.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Fast, clean, and the right winners for the next step.

🧨 The Vision vs. Penta & Dragon Lee

This was trending toward “pretty fun” until it became a Bron Breakker story, which was clearly the point.

Penta’s energy worked, the crowd stayed loud, and the chaos was used to make Breakker feel like a liability even to his own side. The indefinite suspension makes sense on paper, and Heyman immediately flipping it into “Pearce started this” is why he is Heyman.

But again, it felt like it was building toward next week more than it was building toward the Rumble.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️¼
Fine match, bigger angle focus, and still very weekly-TV.

⭐ Main event: AJ Styles vs. Gunther

This was the best kind of Raw main event: two pros, premium pacing, and a finish that demands a rematch.

Styles targeting the leg gave it structure. Gunther’s physical dominance gave it danger. And then the moment that matters: Gunther tapped, but the referee did not see it. From there, Gunther stole it with a low blow into a powerbomb, and the heat stayed nuclear.

That finish is excellent. It protects Styles, keeps Gunther’s aura intact, and sets the rematch up without anyone looking like they got “figured out.”

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Main event delivered like a premium match should.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 Gunther
🥈 AJ Styles
🥉 Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez

Final thoughts

Raw in Düsseldorf was good, sometimes very good, and the main event absolutely hit. The issue is bigger picture. The weekly shows are delivering quality, but the season is not being sold like a season yet.

If the Royal Rumble is supposed to feel life-changing, WWE needs to start treating it that way on television, not assuming the audience will supply the urgency on their own.

Score: 7 / 10

January 14, 2026
From the WWE Performance Center — Orlando, Florida
A true transition episode that clearly signaled who NXT is about to be built around.

This felt like the first genuine “new era” NXT of 2026. The roster is shifting, pillars are moving up, and instead of stalling, the brand leaned into the reset. New names were positioned, old narratives were reframed, and by the end of the night, one truth was impossible to ignore.

Tony D’Angelo is being set up as the next face of NXT.

🎥 Opening segment — Ava resets the NXT Championship picture

Ava opened the show the right way, acknowledging the elephant in the room. Oba Femi has vacated the NXT Championship, and that leaves a vacuum that everyone wants to fill.

Ricky Saints immediately tried to posture like the belt should simply be handed to him, which made the response even better. Instead of shortcuts, NXT went full chaos logic: a six-man Ladder Match on February 3 to crown a new champion.

The announcement was strong, but the aftermath mattered more. Bodies flying, tempers flaring, and Keanu Carver getting spotlighted like someone the brand clearly believes in. This felt like NXT saying, “Here are the next players. Pay attention.”

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼
Clear direction, controlled chaos, and a smart reset.

🥊 Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan

This was a reminder that even in transition, NXT’s women’s division does not dip in quality.

Lola and Kelani were given real time, found a rhythm, and told a clean story. Kelani tried to steal it, Lola caught her, and the spinning back fist shut the door. No nonsense.

Lola calling her shot for Jacy Jayne afterward was exactly what this division needs. If NXT is looking for credible challengers quickly, Lola Vice is ready now.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Solid, confident, and forward-looking.

⚡ WWE Speed Championship — Jasper Troy vs. Tavion Heights

Quick, physical, and exactly what the Speed title is designed to be.

Tavion got a couple flashes, but Jasper Troy felt inevitable from the opening bell. Lexis King jumping Tavion afterward at least gave the segment purpose beyond just filling time.

That said, the Speed division still feels like an accessory rather than a driver.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️¼
Functional, but not yet essential.

🎤 Blake Monroe speaks, and Jaida Parker returns

This was one of the strongest character segments of the night.

Blake Monroe came out with something to say, and the tone was perfect. No apology tour. No pleading. Just a reminder that narratives flip fast in wrestling, and one moment does not define a body of work.

Blake Monroe is not green. She is not the problem. She is operating like a professional.

Then Jaida Parker returned and immediately injected life into the segment. One punch. One statement. One clear signal that she belongs in the mix.

If NXT wants to rebuild momentum in the women’s division, Blake versus Jaida is exactly the type of feud that does real work.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Strong promo, strong return, clear future direction.

🏆 TNA International Championship — Stacks vs. Shiloh Hill

Stacks continues to be a quietly effective heel, and Arianna Grace adds that old-school ringside chaos that makes these matches work.

Shiloh Hill is still developing, but the raw ingredients are there. The finish was simple and effective: heel wins because the referee did not see the assist. Clean, classic, and protective of the challenger.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nothing flashy, but it did exactly what it needed to do.

🧠 Izzi Dame promo and Tatum Paxley snaps

Izzi Dame continues to improve, and this promo reinforced her identity as calculating and unsympathetic. She is not here to be part of anyone’s feel-good story.

Tatum Paxley attacking like a human tornado keeps their issue hot, and getting tossed from the building is an easy consequence that keeps Tatum’s character unstable.

Not the most electric segment of the night, but it advanced the title picture cleanly.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story progression without overcomplication.

🔥 Main Event — No Disqualification: Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox

This match started slow and built steadily until it hit real main-event energy.

Once the weapons came out and Darkstate and OTM got involved, the chaos felt earned. Hendry is easy to rally behind, Dion looked dangerous, and Darkstate came across as an actual threat instead of background noise.

Then Tony D’Angelo arrived.

Tony did not come out to help. He came out to take control.

He flattened Dion. He flattened Hendry. He destroyed security. And in one sequence, he reminded the entire brand that everything is about to run through him.

That is future-face-of-the-brand energy.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Strong finish, bigger statement afterward.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🥇 Tony D’Angelo
🥈 Blake Monroe
🥉 Izzi Dame / Tatum Paxley

Final thoughts

This was a transition episode done with intent. Yes, there was a lot of talking. Yes, NXT feels different as the roster reshuffles. But the direction is clear.

The NXT Championship is being reset with purpose.
New names like Keanu Carver are being positioned quickly.
The women’s division still has depth and edge.
And Tony D’Angelo is being framed as inevitable.

This is not panic time for NXT.

It is stepping-up time.

Score: 7.25 / 10

January 15, 2026
From Curtis Culwell Center — Dallas, Texas
Simulcast Live on AMC and TNA+

A statement episode that framed TNA as a promotion moving forward with confidence, not leaning on nostalgia.

TNA did not ease into 2026. From the opening shot to the main event, this episode felt deliberate. Bigger presentation, clearer direction, and talent positioned with purpose. This was not a “welcome back” show. This was a declaration.

🎥 Opening presentation and AJ Styles sets the tone

Packed building, AMC branding everywhere, and AJ Styles walking out like living proof of what this company helped create. He did not overtalk the moment. One line did the work. Welcome to the house that I built, and it is bigger now. This did not feel like nostalgia bait. It felt like ownership.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A perfect opening statement that honored the past while clearly signaling evolution.

🔥 The Hardys and Elijah vs. Order 4

Fast, energetic opener that leaned into crowd engagement immediately. The Hardys still carry big-match aura in the right environment, Elijah fit seamlessly, and Order 4 felt like a group designed to generate real heat. The Righteous attack afterward elevated the segment from opener to future hook.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Strong tone-setter that gained real weight with the post-match angle.

⚡ Kazarian and AJ Styles backstage tension

Minimal words, maximum gravity. Kazarian carried himself like a world champion. AJ’s presence alone raised the temperature of the entire title scene. This was not nostalgia. This was positioning.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Subtle, effective tension that made the world title feel heavier.

📱 Ryan Nemeth segment and content creators acknowledged

This was modern wrestling promotion done correctly. The segment acknowledged where momentum actually comes from in 2026: creators, clips, and conversation. AJ Francis deserves credit here for pushing presentation forward rather than clinging to old playbooks.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smart, current, and reflective of how wrestling actually spreads now.

🏆 Knockouts Tag Team Championship
The IInspiration vs. Elegance Brand

Flashy, chaotic, and unapologetically TNA. The title change immediately refreshed the division, and the Elegance Brand feels tailor-made for a larger platform like AMC.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not clean, but effective and direction-changing.

🎤 Santino Marella, Daria Rae, and Elayna Black arrive

Santino attempted to stabilize the ship, Daria Rae flipped the tone toward control and authority, and Elayna Black’s arrival instantly added intrigue. This felt like the beginning of a real chapter, not a placeholder segment.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A clean power shift that gave the Knockouts division new direction.

🥊 Knockouts Championship direction
Zaria answers the open challenge

Real-life complications forced a pivot, and TNA handled it correctly. Zaria stepping up added freshness, and the face-to-face with Lei Ying Lee framed the championship as something that actually matters.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A smart adjustment that kept the title scene feeling important.

🧨 The System and JDC’s final dance

This was the emotional core of the episode. JDC spoke from the heart, Genesis stakes were clear, and the tease of someone replacing him next week added intrigue without slowing momentum.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strong faction storytelling that rewarded weekly viewers.

🌟 Dixie Carter and Bully Ray appearance

Love it or hate it, it landed. The reaction mattered, and Bully leaning into the “new era” messaging helped reinforce that this episode was meant to feel historic.

Segment rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
A moment designed to underline significance, and it succeeded.

🔥 Main Event
TNA World Championship
Frankie Kazarian vs. Mike Santana

This felt like a main event built for a bigger stage. Santana wrestled with urgency and authority, Kazarian played the veteran champion role perfectly, and the chaos fit the scale of the moment without overwhelming it. Santana retaining was the correct call.

Match rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A strong closer that positioned Santana as a modern standard-bearer.

⭐ Three Stars of the Night

🌟 AJ Styles
🌟 Mike Santana
🌟 The Hardys and Elijah

Final thoughts

This was a statement show. TNA looked confident, sounded big, and felt focused. Surprises landed, title scenes moved forward, and the promotion showed a clear understanding of how wrestling grows in 2026.

Final score: 8.5 / 10

Be Good People🤘
mr.teshk

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