Straight Shooters

The July 9, 2001 episode of Monday Night Raw was a hard reset of the ongoing WCW Invasion storyline as Paul Heyman and ECW joined the mix. Despite the show emanating from Atlanta, the crowd was HYPED for ECW's resurgence. By the end of the night, ECW and WCW would form The Alliance against the WWF. Despite missteps along the way, this felt like the true beginning of a legit Invasion storyline...

Recorded June 2023. 26 years ago, we saw one of the most memorable moments in wrestling history. The Undertaker threw Mankind off the top of the Hell in a Cell and created one of the most significant moments not only in the Monday Night War era, but in the history of wrestling, period. Oh, yeah, there was also a King of the Ring tournament that night and Stone Cold Steve Austin lost the WWF Champi...

The July 2, 2001 episode Monday Night Raw featured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship being defended by Booker T against Buff Bagwell in the main event. There's a lot of lore about this match and this particular episode of Monday Night Raw, which included a cringy, creepy Vince McMahon angle with Torrie Wilson, so we'll dive deep into it on this episode of the pod! -- Follow us on Twitter/X [...

Recorded June 2023. This week, the guys head back to the circus of 1998 WCW and dive deep into the Great American Bash. Sting vs. Giant for... the WCW Tag Titles? Goldberg against the nWo Wolfpac, Eddie Guerrero and Chavo with a family feud, Heenan cutting off Schiavone, and more! -- Follow us on Twitter/X [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Recorded June 2023. This week, we head back to the golden era of 1997 WCW! It's the Great American Bash! DDP vs. Savage II in a Lights Out Match! Flair/Piper vs. the Outsiders for the WCW Tag Team Titles. Kevin Greene vs. Mongo! Madusa's career ends!? And much, much more! -- Follow us on Twitter/X [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Recorded June 2022. This week, we head to 1996 WCW, just weeks after Scott Hall appeared for the first time on WCW Monday Nitro. He and Kevin Nash would have a surprise in store for Eric Bischoff at that year's Great American Bash. So would Kevin Greene with his monster promo skills, Steve McMichael making the most shocking turn in WCW in the summer of 1996, and plenty more good stuff! -- Foll...

Recorded June 2022. This week, things get extreme AGAIN as we dive deep into ECW's One Night Stand 2006. This was the beginning of the new ECW brand that would be headed by Paul Heyman as GM and Rob Van Dam as the ECW Champion... only for it to fall apart literally weeks later. But first, we talk about Cody Rhodes wrestling at Hell in a Cell with a torn pec, Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi fo...

Recorded June 2022. Things get extreme as we dive deep into ECW's very first One Night Stand pay-per-view from June 12, 2005. -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VaughnMJohnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ] [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shootersradio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

After WWF purchased WCW in 2001, it was all downhill from there, we just didn't know it yet. King of the Ring took place in June 2001 and it was the last "WWF-only" PPV until December's Vengeance PPV later that year. Shane McMahon - the "owner" of WCW - took Kurt Angle to the limit (!), Booker T made his WWF debut and injured Stone Cold Steve Austin - hell, there were a...

This week, THE DEEP DIVES ARE BACK! A Patreon request, epsiode 395 is a deep dive into the very first PPV under the WWE name - Judgment Day 2002. Hulk Hogan as UNDISPUTED CHAMPION? Booker T gettin' freaky. Kurt Angle gets his hair shaved. And more! This episode features a new format for the deep dives... let us know what you think! -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠...

This week, we discuss the latest news heading into a huge wrestling weekend as WWE presents King and Queen of the Ring from Saudi Arabia and AEW presents Double or Nothing from Las Vegas. We also discuss SummerSlam heading to Minnesota in 2026 and making it two nights! Speaking of SummerSlam, we also discuss the latest news that the winners of the King and Queen of the Ring will earn title shots a...

In the spirit of newly-designed WWE and World Tag Team Championships (finally!), Vaughn and Nick discuss their favorite title designs in the history of professional wrestling! -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VaughnMJohnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ] [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shooters...

Vaughn Johnson, Nick Piccone, Mark Henry Jr., and Jason Fanelli discuss their #WrestleMania weekend experiences and thoughts on Philly's spotlight from this past week and weekend as WWE and professional wrestling promotions from around the country took over the city. -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  [ ⁠⁠⁠...

Recorded April 2021. Episode 278. The Blue Meanie joins us to dive deep into the last WrestleMania that was in Philadelphia, WrestleMania XV! Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock headline what may not have been the greatest WrestleMania ever, but there's certainly no shortage of stories to come out of the March 28, 1999 pay-per-view from the First Union Center. ECW icon and WWF superstar The B...

#WrestleMania week is here! On Episode 5, Nick Piccone and Vaughn Johnson of the Straight Shooters Podcast join Jon Jansen to talk all things #WrestleMania. History of #WrestleMania Significance of #WrestleMania in Philly Expectations in and around Philly for #WrestleMania week And more!

#WrestleMania Week is here! On this week's episode, we're going back 25 years to the last WrestleMania to take place in Philadelphia, and live commentating the main event of The Rock defending the WWF Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin. BUT FIRST, IT'S OPENING DAY FOR THE #PHILLIES, BABAY! -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

From episodes 120 and 121 back in November 2017. Vaughn Johnson, Brian Isley, and Nick Piccone discuss the cult classic, "Paid in Full."

It's Part 2 of the Top 40 #WrestleMania matches of all time - and this week, we're joined by the Third Man, Brian Isley! Agree? Disagree? Let us know! -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VaughnMJohnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ] [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shootersradio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ] You can subscribe to Th...

This episode is a very special SWAP-CAST with the Straight Shooters Wrestling Podcast!!! Co-hosts Nick Piccone & Vaughn Johnson join Brian Isley to discuss Basketball & Pro Wrestling! Get ready to examine their "TOP 5 favorite Wrestlers of all time", Issues with the Philadelphia Sixers, and the upcoming Wrestle Mania which Brian, Nick, and Vaughn are all attending! Check it out!!...

This week, we're counting down the top 40 #WrestleMania matches of all time! BUT FIRST, we talk the latest news in wrestling, including Corporate Officers 1-4 being identified in the Janel Grant/Vince McMahon/John Laurinitis/WWE lawsuit, Mercedes Moné's AEW debut, and an interesting WWE/GCW working relationship ahead? All that and MORE! -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠...

The Wrestling Roundtable is back! This time, The Gambler's crew of Jon Jansen, Nick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, and Jason Fanelli convene to discuss their thoughts so far on the Road to WrestleMania, and this weekend's Elimination Chamber premium live event from Perth, Australia. -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, the guys live commentate the very first Elimination Chamber match, which took place at Survivor Series 2002 in Madison Square Garden. Shawn Michaels DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE! But first, we start off on a somber note and talk about the shooting at the Super Bowl parade for the Kansas City Chiefs. -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, the guys talk about the Vice story on Ashley Massaro's statement on Vince McMahon during the concussion lawsuit before her death, Scott D'Amore's TNA departure, and the saga of Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and now The Rock, and what exactly is WWE trying to do here? -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@...

This week, the guys are joined by Phil Strum ( @UnderTheRing ) of USA TODAY to discuss the allegations involving Vince McMahon and John Laurinitis in a civil suit filed by former WWE employee, Janel Grant. Then, they discuss CM Punk's torn tricep injury and what it means for WrestleMania as it heads to Philly. -- Follow us on Twitter [ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_piccone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, the guys are joined by author Dave Rueter, who wrote Kayfabe: A Love Story , a fantastic look at the insane world of professional wrestling as if it were real life. Because kayfabe is alive and well, brother. Dave takes us through his journey, some behind-the-scenes stories of how the book came to be, some of his favorite stories, and much more. If you have a taste for the 80s and early...