Shows
Straight ShootersBONUS: WWE Money in the Bank 2025 Roundtable on Fox Sports The GamblerNick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, Mark Henry Jr., and Roy Burton discuss the 4-match Money in the Bank 2025 card, and discuss whether the concept of the Money in the Bank briefcase has run its course.2025-06-061h 04Straight ShootersREWIND: WWE WrestleMania 29 Deep DiveRecorded March 4, 2021. Ep. 275.WWE brought WrestleMania to MetLife Stadium for the first time in 2013, and Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone were there to see it live in-person. The WrestleMania experience is always a bucket list item for any wrestling fan, and the guys discuss their journey to WrestleMania and how being there live affected their feelings looking back at the event while watching it on the WWE Network for this podcast. They certainly cover the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of the event. --Follow us!shooterspod.comTwitter/X: [@_piccone...2025-04-183h 16Straight ShootersBONUS: WWE WrestleMania 41 Roundtable on Fox Sports The GamblerIt's the Fox Sports The Gambler WrestleMania 41 Roundtable with Nick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, Jon Jansen, and Jason Fanelli!--Follow us!shooterspod.comTwitter/X: [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]Instagram: [@shootersradio]Threads: [@shootersradio] [@picconenick] [@vaughnjohnson166]Bluesky: [@shootersradio] [@piccone] [@vaughnjohnson]Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]2025-04-181h 07Straight Shooters423: WCW Uncensored '98 Deep Dive; Bianca Belair-Naomi-Jade Cargill, AEW Revolution, and MoreVaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone dive deep into WCW Uncensored 1998 - headlined by Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage in a STEEL CAGE! ... But why?BUT FIRST, they discuss current day nonsense re: the Bianca Belair-Naomi-Jade Cargill storyline playing out on SmackDown, AEW Revolution, and more!--Follow us!shooterspod.comTwitter/X: [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]Instagram: [@shootersradio]Threads: [@shootersradio] [@picconenick] [@vaughnjohnson166]Bluesky: [@shootersradio] [@piccone] [@vaughnjohnson]Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]2025-03-131h 59Straight Shooters422: WWE Raw 02/21/05 Deep Dive - Batista Turns on Triple HVaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone continue their 2005 journey and dive deep into the February 21, 2005 episode of WWE's Monday Night Raw... where Batista has to decide whether he wants to stay on Raw and challenge Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 21, or head to SmackDown to take part in a Triple Threat Match against WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield and John Cena.WHAT WILL BATISTA DO!?We also talk AEW Revolution, Carmella's non-renewal with WWE, and more!--Follow us!shooterspod.comTwitter/X: [@_piccone...2025-03-061h 57Straight Shooters421: Elimination Chamber Fallout - John Cena Turns Heel, Bianca Belair Punches Her Ticket to WrestleMania 41Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone react to the events of the 2025 Elimination Chamber. John Cena is a heel! Jade Cargill beat Naomi's ass! Bianca Belair wins! And more!--Follow us!shooterspod.comTwitter/X: [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]Instagram: [@shootersradio]Threads: [@shootersradio] [@picconenick] [@vaughnjohnson166]Bluesky: [@shootersradio] [@piccone] [@vaughnjohnson]Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]2025-03-021h 05Straight Shooters420 Part 1: Cody/Rock, EC, WWE Morale, AEW Creative, and MoreVaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone talk Wrestlenomics report about WWE employee morale being down, WWE creatively cooling off considerably, AEW creative slowly getting better, and more!THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!--Follow us!shooterspod.comTwitter/X: [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]Instagram: [@shootersradio]Threads: [@shootersradio] [@picconenick] [@vaughnjohnson166]Bluesky: [@shootersradio] [@piccone] [@vaughnjohnson]Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]2025-02-272h 09Straight Shooters419: 2025 Royal Rumble ReactionThe 2025 edition of WWE's Royal Rumble is in the books, and the men's Royal Rumble winner - Jey Uso - and women's Royal Rumble winner - Charlotte Flair - have been the topic of many a conversation. Nobody picked Jey Uso to win the Rumble... so what now? What happens with Punk, Reigns, and Rollins? And Charlotte just returned from a year-plus injury... why is she in a title match already?
The Gambler is well-represented this week as Mark Henry Jr. and Roy Burton join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone to talk about everything coming out of...2025-02-061h 17Straight Shooters418: WWE Royal Rumble '15 Deep DiveTen years ago, Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone met for the first time. They attended a Royal Rumble party the Saturday night before the Royal Rumble, attended Ringside with Jim Ross Sunday afternoon before the Royal Rumble, and then, eventually, the Wells Fargo Center for the 2015 Royal Rumble.
It was terrible. The weekend before the Royal Rumble, though, was pretty fun. The guys along with THE THIRD MAN Brian Isley relive that weekend and dive deep into the 2015 Royal Rumble... featuring one of, if not THE, worst Royal Rumble matches ever that occurred in our backyard of...2025-01-232h 00
Straight ShootersWWE Survivor Series: War Games '24 Roundtable on Fox Sports The GamblerNick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, Roy Burton, and Mark Henry Jr. dive into the 2024 #SurvivorSeries on this edition of the #WrestlingRoundtable! They talk about what they love the most about the history of the Survivor Series event, and go over the card for this Saturday's event with The Bloodline Civil War continuing inside War Games!
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YouTube: Fox Sports The Gambler2024-11-291h 01Straight ShootersCLASSIC EPISODE: WWF IYH 11: Buried Alive (Oct. '96) Deep DiveRecorded October 2020. (Episode 256)
Join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone for this classic episode as they dive deep into WWF In Your House: Buried Alive! It was the 11th In Your House pay-per-view offering from the revolutionary force in sports entertainment, and it took place on October 20, 1996 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1996, the World Wrestling Federation was trying some new things, especially with the nWo angle in World Championship Wrestling beginning to take off in popularity. This Buried Alive Match was one of those things, and simply put, the winner would have to bury his opponent...2024-10-282h 06Straight ShootersCLASSIC EPISODE: WCW Halloween Havoc '98 Deep DiveRecorded October 2020. (Episode 255)Join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone for this classic episode as they dive deep into WCW's Halloween Havoc 1998! It took place on October 25, 1998 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Despite being red hot in 1997, WCW had its best fiscal year in 1998 and was setting records. Unfortunately, by October 1998, much of that money starting going down the drain as creative got worse and worse. This pay-per-view is the epitome of what laid ahead for WCW in the coming years. We got the Hogan vs. Warrior rematch. We wish we didn't. The undercard...2024-10-212h 18Straight Shooters409: Mr. McMahon Netflix Docuseries Deep Dive: Part I (Eps. 1-3)This week, it's a Wildfire Radio era reunion as "The Third Man" Brian Isley and Maleek "Cool Breeze" Kwubiri join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone to dive deep into the Mr. McMahon Netflix docuseries. In Part I, the guys dive into Episodes 1-3 of the six-part series.
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Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]2024-10-181h 51Straight ShootersCLASSIC EPISODE: WCW Halloween Havoc '97 Deep DiveRecorded October 2020. (Episode 254)Join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone for this classic episode as they dive deep into W̶C̶W̶ Slim Jim's Halloween Havoc 1997. It took place on October 26, 1997 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It garnered a 1.10 pay-per-view buyrate, and Nick was among those. WCW in 1997 was red hot and the road to Starrcade was no different. With a couple of bumps along the way, however, Halloween Havoc that year was a microcosm of what was to come for WCW. Pretty good start - lame finish. --Follow us on Twi...2024-10-152h 19Straight ShootersCLASSIC EPISODE: WCW Halloween Havoc 96 Deep DiveRecorded October 2022. (Episode 341)Join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone for this classic episode as they dive dive into W̶C̶W̶ Slim Jim's Halloween Havoc 1996! The nWo was just born and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan would defend the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against the "Macho Man" Randy Savage... and after the match, Hogan is in for a "ROWDY" SURPRISE!!!--Follow us on Twitter/X [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms:[Apple Podcasts] [Spotify] [iHeartRadio] [Amazon] [Audacy] [TuneIn Radio] [Pandora] and wherever else you get your podcasts! shooterspod.comExclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]2024-10-142h 05Straight ShootersCLASSIC EPISODE: WCW Halloween Havoc '95 Deep DiveRecorded October 2021. (Episode 305)Join Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone for this classic episode as they dive deep into WCW's Halloween Havoc 1995... where Hulk Hogan and The Giant would square off not once... but twice! The Sumo Monster Truck Match and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match would feature the two... all the while the Giant would fall off the roof in the building in between those events. It's really a hoot.--Follow us on Twitter/X [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms:[Apple Podcasts] [Spotify] [iHeartRadio] [Amazon] [Audacy] [TuneIn Radio] [Pandora] 2024-10-081h 38Straight ShootersBONUS: WWE SummerSlam '24 Roundtable on Fox Sports The GamblerNick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, and Jason Fanelli convene for the #SummerSlam Roundtable - our first roundtable since February! The guys will talk about their favorite storylines heading into SummerSlam and have predictions for all seven matches to take place Saturday night from Cleveland Browns Stadium!2024-08-031h 05Straight Shooters392: WrestleMania XL Reaction w/ The Gambler's Wrestling RoundtableVaughn 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.
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Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]2024-04-101h 22Straight ShootersBONUS: Nick and Vaughn talk #WrestleMania on The Line Change w/ Jon Jansen on Fox Sports The Gambler#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!
2024-03-3048 minStraight ShootersBONUS: "Paid in Full" ReviewFrom episodes 120 and 121 back in November 2017.
Vaughn Johnson, Brian Isley, and Nick Piccone discuss the cult classic, "Paid in Full."2024-03-2721 minStraight ShootersBONUS: High IQ Basketball/Straight Shooters Swap-Cast w/ Brian IsleyThis 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!!
Nick Piccone is a contributing writer for Philly Influencer at the Philly Voice since 2015 & contributing writer at FoxPHLGambler.com.
/ _piccone https://officialnickpiccone.com/https://www.phillyvoice.com/staff-con...
Vaughn Johnson is a contributing writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer & Wrestling Junkie.
/ vaughnmjohnson https://ww...2024-03-201h 07Straight Shooters388: WWE Elimination Chamber '24 Roundtable via Fox Sports Radio The Gambler PhiladelphiaThe 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.
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Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]2024-02-2353 minStraight ShootersCLASSIC: Live commentary of the '92 Royal Rumble matchEPISODE 23! Recorded January 15, 2016. Live commentary of the entire 1992 Royal Rumble match with Vaughn Johnson, Nick Piccone, and Brian Isley.--Follow us on Twitter [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@shootersradio]You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms:[Apple Podcasts] [Google Podcasts] [Spotify] [iHeartRadio] [Amazon] [Audacy] [TuneIn Radio] [Pandora] [Stitcher] [Spreaker] [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]2024-01-231h 32
Straight ShootersBONUS: Nick and Vaughn talking WWE WrestleMania 40 coming to PhillyWRESTLEMANIA IS COMING TO PHILLY! And to talk all about it are the guys from Shooters Radio - Nick Piccone and Vaughn Johnson! They join Jon Jansen in the opening segment of the Line Change on Fox Sports Radio The Gambler as they talk about WWE WrestleMania 40 coming to Philly in 2024, the city being perfect for the event and everything it brings, what the landscape of WWE may look like then, and much more!2022-07-2832 min
Straight ShootersBONUS: WWE WrestleMania 38 Roundtable Night 2 on Fox Sports Radio PhiladelphiaNick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, Jon Jansen, and Jason Fanelli run through all the matches slated for Night 2 in Dallas on Sunday. Aired on the Line Change on Fox Sports Radio The Gambler Philadelphia on April 1, 2022.
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E-ma...2022-04-0316 minStraight ShootersBONUS: WWE WrestleMania 38 Roundtable Night 1 on Fox Sports Radio PhiladelphiaNick Piccone, Vaughn Johnson, Jon Jansen, and Jason Fanelli discuss their excitement for #WrestleMania 38 and run through all the matches slated for Night 1 in Dallas on Saturday. Aired on the Line Change on Fox Sports Radio The Gambler Philadelphia on April 1, 2022.
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Fac...2022-04-0340 minStraight ShootersBONUS: WWE 2022 Royal Rumble Roundtable on Fox Sports Radio The GamblerYour boys Nick Piccone and Vaughn Johnson join the Fox Sports The Gambler Royal Rumble Roundtable with Jon Jansen and Jason Fanelli to discuss all things Royal Rumble, make their picks, and go over the DraftKings Sportsbook pool.
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Follow us on Twitter [@_piccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]
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Facebook: [The Straig...2022-01-2953 minStraight Shooters314: AEW Dynamite on TBS: Hangman-Danielson II Live CommentaryAEW Dynamite is now on TBS, and Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone are here to live commentate the entire episode!
Headlined by Bryan Danielson challenging "Hangman" Adam Page for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship with three judges this time around, this episode also featured the crowning of the new TBS Champion, and much more!
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Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shoote...2022-01-062h 11Straight Shooters312: Our Best Podcast Moments of 2021It's been a hell of a year in the world of professional wrestling, and we were there with you every step of the way. To put a bow on 2021, please enjoy this compilation of some of the best moments of the podcast this year.
[01:45] "Paranoid" Randy Savage (WWF Royal Rumble 1991 Deep Dive; Ep 269)
[05:24] Darren Drozdov meets Vince McMahon in his office and becomes "Puke" ('Beyond The Mat' Deep Dive; Ep 273)
[14:40] ECW legend The Blue Meanie talks about his WrestleMania XV and WrestleMania Rage Party experience in Philly (WWF WrestleMania XV Deep Dive; Ep 278)
[51:08] Vaughn eviscerates Mr. Perfect's fit and Donnie...2021-12-292h 07
Straight ShootersBONUS: WWE Money in the Bank Preview on Fox Sports The GamblerJon Jansen, Jason Fanelli, Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone give a FULL preview of the upcoming WWE PPV Money in the Bank!
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2021-07-1737 minStraight ShootersBONUS: A Super Time at the ECW ArenaTake a listen this Patreon exclusive, which we originally recorded in January 2019.
Vaughn Johnson, who worked with the Philadelphia Eagles the year they won the Super Bowl, talks about receiving his Super Bowl ring at the infamous ECW Arena, aka the 2300 Arena, in June 2018 during the team's ring ceremony.
We had a special guest with us, as ECW icon and huge Eagles fan, the Blue Meanie, joined us for the show!
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[Apple Podcasts] [Google Podcasts] [Spotify] [iHeartRadio] [Amazon] [Audacy] [TuneIn Radio] [Pan...2021-07-051h 01Straight ShootersWrestleMania 37 Roundtable Preview on Fox Sports The Gambler (4/9/21)Nick Piccone and Vaughn Johnson join Fox Sports The Gambler with Jon Jansen and Jason Fanelli for an hour-long roundtable preview.
Favorite Mania moments and matches, and previewing Nights 1 and 2 of WrestleMania 37.
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2021-04-101h 03Straight Shooters275: WWE WrestleMania 29 Deep DiveWWE brought WrestleMania to MetLife Stadium for the first time in 2013, and Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone were there to see it live in-person. The WrestleMania experience is always a bucket list item for any wrestling fan, and the guys discuss their journey to WrestleMania and how being there live affected their feelings looking back at the event while watching it on the WWE Network for this podcast.
They certainly cover the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of the event. BUT FIRST, they talk Lashley winning the WWE Championship, NXT moving to Tuesdays, Joey Ryan's wrestling show getting...2021-03-043h 50Straight Shooters251: AEW/Matt Hardy Concussion Confusion and WWE/"Indepedent Contractors"Matt Hardy suffered a scary fall at Saturday's AEW All Out pay-per-view where he was knocked unconscious for nearly a minute. Thankfully, the decision was made to stop the Broken Rules Match between him and Sammy Guevara. Minutes later, the doctor cleared Hardy and they resumed the match. The next day, Tony Khan said Hardy did not have a concussion and many people apologized to him, and respected wrestling reporters did not do additional research. This really irked Nick Piccone, so he goes All In (pun intended) on AEW, Tony Khan, and the doctor who "cleared" Hardy (who is currently...2020-09-111h 40Straight Shooters249: Jacob Blake, Roman Reigns, and the Meaning of TitlesThis week, we talk about the real world.
The show starts off with poignant comments from Vaughn Johnson about Jacob Blake, the Black man who was shot by a police officer 7 times... and survived. Vaughn begins the episode with a monologue that you need to hear.
Then we get into some wrasslin'. Roman Reigns is back, and the perception of him has been very, very different, especially now. We explore why that is.
Brodie Lee squashed Cody on Dynamite to win the TNT Championship. So why does he seem so much more important as TNT Champion than he did as...2020-08-271h 10Straight Shooters200: Inside Stories and Greatest Moments of The Straight Shooters | SHOOTERS CLASSIC (6/20/19)Recorded 6/20/2019.
Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone celebrate the 200th episode of The Straight Shooters! The guys discuss how the podcast got started, some of the best moments of the show, inside stories, shout outs to all of our guests over the years, and more on this milestone episode!
Follow us on Twitter [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]
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E-mail: [straightshooterspodcast@gm...2020-07-271h 16Straight Shooters241: The Best and Worst Wrestling PPV TaglinesThis week, Vaughn discusses his little Twitter dust-up with Dave Meltzer and his incels over whether his comments on Sammy Guevara in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter about the term "rape" being a common way to describe a man thinking a woman was attractive were accurate or not 20 years ago, much less four years ago. Much to nobody's surprise - Meltz decides to block Vaughn.
Then we have some fun. We're going over the best and worst taglines for wrestling pay-per-views in modern history. Some of these are very, very good, and some are very, very bad. Trying to bring some...2020-07-021h 36Straight Shooters237: Black Lives MatterThis episode is powerful. Vaughn Johnson explains in great detail what's happening and why black lives feel under attack. You won't understand unless you listen. If you refuse to listen, you're a part of the problem. The first 50 minutes of this episode are as real as real gets, as candid as candid gets.
Then, we live commentate the first in the trilogy of Ricky Steamboat/Ric Flair matches in 1989. This one is from Chi-Town Rumble on February 20, 1989.
Follow us on Twitter: [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Podcasts], [S...2020-06-051h 29Straight Shooters2: Andrew Goldstein talks Summerslam and more | SHOOTERS CLASSIC (8/15/15)This week, Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone are joined by former WWE creative writer and current producer for MTV2’s “Uncommon Sense,” fellow Philly guy out of Temple University, Andrew Goldstein. Goldstein and the guys talk about Summerslam and Goldstein books what he would do at the biggest event of the summer. The Shooters then talk about AAA’s Triplemania disaster, Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling, and Sheamus’ possible faux concussion.
Recorded on 8-15-15.
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You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Podcasts], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadi...2020-05-241h 02Straight Shooters1: RIP "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Thoughts heading into Summerslam 2015 | SHOOTERS CLASSIC (8/6/15)Recorded on 08/06/15.
Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone lead off the inaugural Straight Shooters episode with their own tributes to the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. The discussion then shifts to WWE’s build of the biggest event of the summer, Summerslam. They break down the big angles heading into the show, including the new Divas revolution. They then cover some of the other pro wrestling promotions with Lucha Underground, Ring of Honor and more.
Follow us on Twitter: [@nickpiccone] [@VaughnMJohnson] [@ShootersRadio]
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Podcasts], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [Pandora], [TuneIn...2020-05-1358 minStraight Shooters227: Cody's Legend Growing; Ruthless Aggression Era Revisionist History and MoreRecorded 2/20/2020.
Episode 227! Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the legend of Cody Rhodes and how it's just growing in All Elite Wrestling. Has anybody benefited from AEW more than Cody at this point? The guys discuss just how great he's been so far in AEW and what his future could hold.
WWE Network's new Ruthless Aggression documentary has been highly anticipated, and a few episodes dropped this week. What's funny is that they completely glossed over the biggest reason the WWE had to change their name from WWF. No mention of the World Wildlife Fund at all. Why...2020-02-211h 02Straight Shooters226: Wednesday Night War Over? WrestleMania returns to LA, When to Philly?Recorded 2/13/2020.
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the latest ratings in the battle for Wednesday Night wrestling supremacy, as Vaughn declares the Wednesday Night War over! However, Nick doesn't necessarily agree. Listen as the two make their cases.
With WrestleMania returning to Los Angeles in 2021, the guys discuss where they think WrestleMania will wind up in the proceeding years, all the way to 2026, where they both think Philly has a good chance of landing WWE's premier event.
Goldberg is returning to face "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt for the Universal Championship at Super Showdown in Saudi Arabia. Will they...2020-02-141h 06Straight Shooters225: The Evolution of the WWE Network; What's Next?Recorded 2/7/2020.
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) react to Vince McMahon's and WWE interim CFO Frank Riddick's earnings conference call on Thursday. A huge item that was brought up was the possibility of WWE selling their PPV's to bigger streaming distributors in the near future. It seems like there already might be smoke.
The guys discuss their thoughts on the current WWE Network, how they think it's adapted over the years, their favorite parts of it, least favorite parts, and whether or not WWE can get fans to pay more than $9.99 for PPVs anymore given the last six years ha...2020-02-071h 04Straight Shooters224: Royal Rumble Fallout; WWE Corporate Shake-Up, Naomi Is Back!Recorded 2/1/2020.
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss WWE's corporate shake-up, WWE's terrible production itinerary that includes camera cuts to the crowc during very, very important moments, Naomi's return that got social media talking, and a racist Royal Rumble?
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2020-02-011h 11Straight Shooters223: AEW/TNT Extension Through 2023; RAW Is Good AgainRecorded 1/16/2020.
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the gigantic news of All Elite Wrestling re-upping with TNT through 2023. They're also getting a second show on the station. Why this is huge news for the industry and more.
The guys also discuss the latest in the Wednesday Night War, and how much better RAW has been in recent weeks.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
Facebook...2020-01-1755 minStraight Shooters222: Royal Rumble RetrospectiveRecorded 1/9/2020.
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss their favorite moments and memories of 30+ years of the Royal Rumble.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
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E-mail: [straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2020-01-101h 14Straight Shooters221: Predictions for the Year 2020Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) give their predictions of what they think will happen in the world of wrestling in 2020. They also discuss how overrated surprises are in the Royal Rumble now, when WrestleMania might come to Philly and more.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]
E-mail: [straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2020-01-031h 02Straight Shooters220: NXT Sweeps AEW; Biggest Moments of the DecadeVaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the latest in the ongoing ratings battle between NXT and AEW, and this week, NXT runs a clean sweep of AEW. What does this mean for AEW? Who's got the momentum heading into 2020? And what does AEW need to do differently to feel actually different from WWE?
The guys then run down the best moments of the 2010s, with the help from Twitter user @BulletClubIta and this amazing Twitter thread:
https://twitter.com/BulletClubIta/status/1204963890813194240?s=20
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Sp...2019-12-201h 46Straight Shooters219 | Top Stories of 2019 | 12/07/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) are back! After a few weeks off, the guys return and discuss some of the biggest wrestling stories of the year, inside and outside of the ring.
AEW's debut, NXT going head-to-head with Dynamite, ROH's decline, WrestleMania, and much more is discussed on this episode.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]
E-mail: [straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com]
Learn...2019-12-071h 09Straight Shooters218 | CM Punk IS BACK; Ratings; ACH/Jordan Myles and More | 11/14/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss CM Punk's return to WWE programming as a surprise at the very end of this week's edition of WWE Backstage on FS1.
It's another edition of the Wednesday Night War between AEW and NXT. Who won this round?
We also talk about ACH quitting WWE on a Periscope video.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
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...2019-11-1559 minStraight Shooters217 | Full Gear Preview, Cody's Promo, AEW/NXT Ratings and More | 11/07/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) preview AEW's Full Gear pay-per-view, chat about the historical significance of Cody's promo from Dynamite, discuss some of their favorite promos of all-time, dissect the Wednesday Night War ratings battle this week and more.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts], [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]
E-mail: [straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2019-11-081h 31Straight Shooters216 | Jordan Myles T-shirt; The Fiend as Universal Champ, Women's War Games | 10/31/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss Jordan Myles' Twitter tirade railing against a terrible-looking and racist T-shirt that caused a ripple effect throughout the wrestling community. The guys discuss Myles' possible motives, and also discuss a major issue when it comes to not only WWE booking, but pro wrestling as a whole - why is pushing African-Americans at the top of the company only suitable if they're doing it one at a time? Why aren't we seeing a WrestleMania main event that features two African-American wrestlers one on one? Great topic and great discussion.
The show then shifts...2019-11-011h 03Straight Shooters215 | How Can Pro Wrestling Regain Mainstream Popularity? | 10/24/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss a dip in the Wednesday Night War ratings once again, but this time, there's good reason as both shows were up against stiff competition.
Despite neither show hitting the 1.0 million mark, it may very well have been the best set of shows thus far for AEW and NXT respectively. The guys discuss a little about the ratings and why they can be overrated by many.
The discussion shifts to the trials and tribulations that professional wrestling, more so WWE since they've been the big dog since 2001, faces in terms of attracting mainstream...2019-10-2555 minStraight Shooters214 | Bischoff Out, Prichard In, Ratings, WWE Draft and More | 10/15/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) return to discuss a VERY BUSY TWO WEEKS in professional wrestling.
Eric Bischoff is OUT as Executive Director of SmackDown, and done with WWE. He is being replaced by Bruce Prichard. How did that happen? Why did that happen?
How did RAW and SmackDown fare in the WWE Draft?
Both AEW and NXT ratings were down in Week 2 of the Wednesday Night War. Why?
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts](please rate and review us!), [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] a...2019-10-161h 10Straight Shooters213 | AEW vs. NXT Thoughts, Ratings, and the Future | 10/03/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) review the first-ever head-to-head Wednesday Night War between AEW's Dynamite on TNT and NXT on the USA Network.
Which show was better? What were the ratings? The segment-by-segment deep dive into what was going up against what on each show and plenty more this week!
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: [Apple Podcasts](please rate and review us!), [Stitcher], [Google Play], [Spreaker], [Spotify], [iHeartRadio], [TuneIn Radio], [SoundCloud], [Player FM] and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: [patreon.com/shootersradio]
Twitter: [@ShootersRadio]
Facebook: [The Straight Shooters]
...2019-10-041h 17Straight Shooters212 | Watching NXT Live, The Fiend Discussion, Another Boom Period? | 09/25/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) watch NXT on the USA Network live as they discuss Bray Wyatt's Fiend character and if it's really groundbreaking. Why is it so popular right now? Are we overhyping its popularity?
The discussion then moves to whether or not we are on the precipice of another boom period in wrestling. Is this the same type of boom period we saw in 1998 and 1999? Is more television programs a boom period? Or is it more the mainstream factor? The guys discuss all that and more on Episode 212!
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on...2019-09-261h 07Straight Shooters211 | NXT on USA reaction, AEW thoughts, Brock vs. Kofi, Bray vs. Seth | 09/20/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss NXT's debut on the USA Network and its rating. Was it good or bad? What will AEW's debut on TNT look like in terms of ratings?
The guys also discuss Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship being official for the first SmackDown on FOX. Will Brock win? What can WWE do that's newsworthy enough and not give Brock the title?
Bray Wyatt is also challenging Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship inside Hell in a Cell. There's no way he loses, right?
Right?
You can subscribe to The Straight...2019-09-2159 minStraight Shooters210 | AEW's All Out and Where They're At As A Company | 08/28/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss AEW's All Out pay-per-view, make predictions, and end the show discussing how they view AEW as a wrestling company right now.
You can subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, SoundCloud, Player FM and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: patreon.com/shootersradio
Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Facebook: The Straight Shooters
E-mail: straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2019-08-2948 minStraight Shooters209 | AEW vs. NXT Is Official, And Now Fans Are... Mad? | 08/21/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the move of NXT to the USA Network beginning September 18 and becoming a live television program to go head-to-head with AEW weekly.
For the fans who wanted a wrestling war, they got it. And, there's a lot of them. Of course, when someone gets what they want, sometimes they second-guess exactly what they wanted and begin to regret it. There's not much difference regarding this.
AEW also announced TV tapings for October 23 and October 30 in Pittsburgh (Petersen Events Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus) and Charleston, West Virginia (Charleston Coliseum), respectively...2019-08-2256 minStraight Shooters208 | When Does a Title Reign Get Stale? And KOTR Returns! | 08/14/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss how the crowd in Toronto reacted to Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton this past Sunday at SummerSlam, which was parroted by some people who said Kofi Kingston's reign has been boring and it's time for a new champion.
The guys discuss Kofi's reign and why it's not boring, and also why it's one of the best title reigns in recent WWE history. Also, when is it time to decide a new champion is needed?
And King of the Ring is back! The tournament will take place over the next few weeks on...2019-08-151h 08Straight Shooters207 | RIP Harley Race; AEW in Philly in Oct.; SummerSlam/NXT TakeOver Preview | 08/07/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the legendary career of Harley Race, who passed away last week. What moments and memories stood out to you?
The guys then discuss AEW coming to Philly on October 16 for a TV taping. But they're not heading to the Wells Fargo Center, they're heading to the site of TNA's 2011 Bound For Glory pay-per-view spectacular... the Liacouras Center. Nick talks about why this sort of leaves a bad impression on him while Vaughn tries to make sense of it since, you know, AEW is a brand-new company and selling out large arenas probably...2019-08-081h 17Straight Shooters206 | Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart - SummerSlam '94 Live Commentary | 07/31/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) live commentate one of the best wrestling matches in SummerSlam history as Bret "The Hitman" Hart defends the WWF Championship against his brother, Owen Hart, in a Steel Cage Match at SummerSlam 1994 in Chicago. Earlier in the year at WrestleMania X, Owen pinned Bret in the middle of the ring, so this was Owen's second chance to not only beat his brother again, but become WWF Champion.
We live commentate the interviews leading up to the match as it was a family affair at ringside as the British Bulldog returned to the WWF...2019-08-011h 10Straight Shooters205 | The Wrestling Bubble; AEW Debuts on TNT Oct. 2 | 07/24/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the bubble that hardcore wrestling fans often find themselves in. After RAW Reunion, is it possible that reaching to the casual audience is actually more important than reaching to the hardcore base? Has the hardcore base already turned on WWE completely? We talk about a phenomenon known as "The Wrestling Bubble" and whether it's good to pop that bubble sometimes to get a view of the bigger picture.
Before that discussion, we touch on AEW officially announcing, via press release, that they'll debut on TNT on Wednesday, October 2. Should be a big...2019-07-251h 09Straight Shooters204 | What Bischoff & Heyman Need To Do To Be Different | 07/18/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the things both SmackDown Executive Director Eric Bischoff and RAW Executive Director Paul Heyman can do to make their brands better. What can they do to stand out?
The guys discuss in detail SmackDown's move to FOX especially, and what Bischoff can do with his program, given the freedom [hopefully], to make it what FOX visualizes it is.
Vaughn was at Jim Ross' and Conrad Thompson's live show this past weekend in Philly before Extreme Rules. He talks about the show and has some poignant thoughts on Jim Ross. The guys also...2019-07-191h 14Straight Shooters203 | Who Would You Take In a Fight? What To Watch For in EVOLVE/FFTF/Extreme Rules | 07/11/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the weird confrontation at a Blink 182 concert between Enzo Amore and Joey Janela. The video doesn't show much, but it was the talk of Wrestling Twitter this week.
That got Vaughn and Nick thinking... who would you take in a real fight? The guys list their favorites of the current crop in pro wrestling as to who would win a real fight against anyone, not just other pro wrestlers. If you're involved in a bar fight (hopefully you're not), who would you want fighting alongside you?
After that discussion, Vaughn and Nick...2019-07-121h 11Straight Shooters202 | Can WWE Make a New "Attitude" Work in 2019? G1 Preview | 07/03/19Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the Braun Strowman/Bobby Lashley angle from RAW, the Kofi Kingston/Samoa Joe promo from SmackDown and a few more tidbits about this week's WWE programming providing a tonal shift than we've seen in, well, years.
The guys also discuss whether or not WWE can continue with adult-oriented themes in 2019, even if they don't go as far as the Attitude Era in the late 90s did. Will they gain fans by shifting the storylines like they did in the 90s? Will lapsed fans come back? The guys discuss their thoughts on it...2019-07-041h 21
Straight Shooters201 | Heyman and Bischoff to run WWE TV; Rollins/Ospreay beef; EVOLVE vs. AEW? | 06/27/19Tweet
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) take on a myriad of topics this week, the biggest being the bombshell announced by WWE on Thursday morning. Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman are back working for Vince McMahon, and each of them will be controlling one of WWE's television shows. Bischoff will run SmackDown as its Executive Director, and Heyman will be running RAW with the same title.
What exactly will the Executive Directors do? According to the WWE.com article, Bischoff and Heyman "will oversee the creative development of WWE’s flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and l...2019-06-281h 06
Straight Shooters200 | Inside Stories and the Best Moments of The Straight Shooters | 06/20/19Tweet
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) celebrate the 200th episode of The Straight Shooters! The guys discuss how the podcast got started, some of the best moments of the show, shout outs to all of our guests over the years, and more on this milestone episode!
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, SoundCloud, Player FM and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: patreon.com/shootersradio
Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Facebook: The Straight Shooters
E-mail: straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com
The post 200 | In...2019-06-211h 16
Straight Shooters199 | WWE’s Reliance on Aging Superstars | 06/13/19Tweet
This week, Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss WWE's reliance too much on aging superstars for some of their biggest shows. Goldberg vs. Undertaker? Match didn't turn out too well. What can WWE do to change its philosophical agenda and avoid using aging veterans that don't belong in a ring anymore?
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, SoundCloud, Player FM and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Exclusive Patreon content: patreon.com/shootersradio
Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Facebook: The Straight Shoote...2019-06-141h 08
Straight Shooters198 | Reaction to DOUBLE OR NOTHING, Jon Moxley on Talk Is Jericho, NXT TakeOver XXV | 05/31/19Tweet
This week, Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) react to AEW's DOUBLE OR NOTHING pay-per-view. What was good? What was great? Was there anything bad? The ring ropes and turnbuckles were great! The guys discuss their thoughts on the show and what to look forward to come the summer.
Then, the guys dive deep into Jon Moxley's appearance on Talk Is Jericho [you can listen to the entire interview here]. Moxley let loose on Vince McMahon and the creative ineptitude that WWE has right now. Vaughn and Nick discuss Moxley's comments on how ridiculous his promos were written, h...2019-05-311h 22
Straight Shooters197 | AEW Double or Nothing Preview; Brock Lesnar as Mr. MITB; 24/7 Title | 05/24/19Tweet
This week, Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) preview in-depth the upcoming Double or Nothing pay-per-view that's got the wrestling world waiting in anticipation. All Elite Wrestling takes center stage this weekend, so the guys go match by match with their preview and predictions for the event.
While that takes up 90% of the show, the guys also discuss Brock Lesnar winning Money in the Bank, as well as the introduction of the 24/7 Title, which was received with much negativity by the Albany audience.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rat...2019-05-241h 11
Straight Shooters196 | AEW on TNT; RIP Ashley Massaro; MITB Preview | 05/16/19Tweet
This week, Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone discuss AEW's television deal with TNT in great detail. After almost 20 years, professional wrestling will return to the Turner network in Fall 2019. What does this mean for pro wrestling? What type of rating should AEW aim for in the beginning? What about within the first year? What night will their show be on? Will TNT help AEW by giving them lead-in slots to NBA games? All those questions are answered and more during the in-depth discussion.
Before that, Vaughn and Nick discuss the untimely death of Ashley Massaro. Formerly of WWE, and a...2019-05-171h 06
Straight Shooters195 | WWE’s creatively bankrupt, Lio Rush, Lars Sullivan | 05/08/19Tweet
This week, Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss just how creatively bankrupt WWE is right now. With the Superstar Shake-Up happening just a few weeks ago, Vince McMahon basically decided to undo what his company did on RAW and SmackDown and introduced a "Wild Card" rule, allowing 4 RAW superstars to show up on SmackDown and vice versa.
The hell?
The guys discuss the decision to do this, why WWE is struggling right now to pull in good ratings, and what the future might hold before SmackDown heads to FOX in October.
The conversation then moves to Lio Rus...2019-05-091h 13
Straight Shooters194 | Better WWE PPV Names, Goldberg/Lesnar/Taker set for Saudi Arabia, Jon Moxley’s Back | 05/01/19Tweet
This week, Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss Jon Moxley (now formerly Dean Ambrose) and his future. Mere minutes after his WWE contract expired, Moxley posted a video on Twitter that got many people hyped. Is he AEW bound? The guys discuss Moxley's possibilities.
The duo also discusses Bill Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, and The Undertaker being advertised for their Saudi Arabia show in June. Are we getting Goldberg vs. Lesnar again?
The discussion then shifts to PPV names. One of the guys' favorite topics, Vaughn and Nick help WWE put together their entire yearly PPV schedule with the...2019-05-021h 09
Straight Shooters193 | The WWE Superstar Shake-Up and in-depth WWE Ratings Discussion | 04/24/19Tweet
This week, Nick and Vaughn discuss the fallout of the WWE Superstar Shake-Up on both RAW and SmackDown Live now that we've had the first two shows of the new brands since the talent exchange.
What's the deal with The Viking Raiders and all the name changes? The Viking Experience? Really? What was wrong with War Raiders? The guys discuss that issue and why names absolutely mean something regardless of how "marketable" people think certain names are or aren't.
They also discuss Sasha Banks and her future with WWE. Will she be back? Why it was such a big de...2019-04-251h 06
Straight Shooters192 | ECW Barely Legal Anniversary Show with The Blue Meanie | 04/11/19Tweet
Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick (@nickpiccone) are joined by ECW legend The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) as they take a trip down memory lane and celebrate the anniversary of ECW's first-ever pay-per-view, Barely Legal, live from the ECW Arena.
As we discuss how ECW showed up on WWF television in 1996, the invasion on RAW in February 1997 to April's Barely Legal pay-per-view, Meanie takes us behind-the-scenes and details what it was like having that promotion on WWF television and the reaction from within to the pay-per-view.
Some great anecdotes, stories and memories are re-lived on this special edition of The Straight Shooters!
You...2019-04-121h 59
Straight Shooters191 | What’s The Deal With The WWE Brand Split? | 04/10/19Tweet
Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick (@nickpiccone) discuss some of the WrestleMania fallout with a focus on random superstars appearing on RAW and SmackDown randomly. Just what the hell is going on with the brand split?
They also touch on Pat McAfee's run-in with Michael Cole, Sasha Bank's social media post and more!
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, SoundCloud, Player FM and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Facebook: The Straight Shooters
E-mail: straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com
And you can now also bec...2019-04-111h 10
Straight Shooters190 | WrestleMania 35 Preview, JR to AEW and More | 04/04/19Tweet
Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick (@nickpiccone) are joined by NJ.com's Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) on this week's episode, which is a huge, almost two-hour long, in-depth preview of WrestleMania, which takes place this Sunday from MetLife Stadium IN THE SHADOWS OF NEW YORK CITY!
The guys go over all the matches in detail and make their predictions. But before that, they begin with a discussion on some news bits as Jim Ross agrees to a massive deal with All Elite Wrestling, the Usos sign extensions with WWE, and Rob Van Dam signs with Impact Wrestling.
You can also su...2019-04-041h 57
Straight Shooters189 | KOFIMANIA! Charlotte Flair Back on Top, Women’s WM Match History | 03/27/19Tweet
Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick (@nickpiccone) are joined by the good brother Sawyer on this week's episode, which begins with a look at KOFIMANIA!
That's right... Kofi Kingston's teammates in Xavier Woods and Big E helped propel him into the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania against Daniel Bryan after outlasting each team in a Gauntlet Match on this week's SmackDown Live. The guys discuss Kofi's ascent into the title picture and if he'll ultimately walk out of WrestleMania with the WWE Championship.
Then the talk shifts to the newest SmackDown Women's Champion... Charlotte Flair! Despite already being penned into the Wr...2019-03-281h 11
Straight Shooters188 | Not Quite Yet KofiMania, Angle’s Last Match, UFC PPVs on ESPN+ and More | 03/21/19Tweet
Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick (@nickpiccone) begin this week's episode looking at the storyline arc of Kofi Kingston and the WWE Championship from the past month.
We all thought Kofi would punch his ticket to WrestleMania on this week's SmackDown. It didn't happen. Will it happen next week? It's going to happen, right?
Nick also wrote about this on his Medium site.
The guys also discuss Kurt Angle's final match being against... Baron Corbin? UFC is making their PPVs only available through ESPN+. What does that mean for the future of the WWE Network? The guys talk about that, and muc...2019-03-211h 10
Straight Shooters187 | Fastlane preview; RIP King Kong Bundy; JR Leaving WWE | 03/07/19Tweet
Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick (@nickpiccone) begin this episode paying respects to King Kong Bundy and "The Destroyer" Dick Beyer as they both passed away this week.
They then discuss Jim Ross leaving WWE after his contract expires and the possibility of him going to AEW.
Tampa is hosting WrestleMania 36 in 2020. Will WrestleMania ever come back to Philly? There's one year that Nick thinks it's likely to happen.
FASTLANE IS SUNDAY! The guys preview the show in-depth and give their opinions about what's likely to happen.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please...2019-03-081h 04
Straight Shooters186 | What Is Going On In WWE? | 02/28/19Tweet
It was a week of change in WWE... kind of.
Lots of news items inside and outside of the ring were touched on this week's episode of the pod.
We hit on Bruce Prichard being re-hired by WWE, the Becky Lynch/Ronda Rousey saga on social media, Roman Reigns returning, Batista returning and much more!
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, SoundCloud, Player FM and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Facebook: The Straight Shooters
E-mail: straightshooterspodc...2019-03-0154 min
Straight Shooters185 | In-Depth Look at the History of NXT Call-Ups | 02/20/19Tweet
Some high-profile NXT talents made their main rosters debut this week... but why?
In what seemed more like a showcase rather than integrating these guys into the main roster, Aleister Black, Ricochet, Johnny Gargano and NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa appeared on both RAW and SmackDown Live this week, and were booked pretty strongly. But what was the purpose? What does this mean for future NXT call-ups?
And speaking of NXT call-ups, that's what the majority of this week's show is about. Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) run down the history of the NXT call-ups and talk in-depth abo...2019-02-211h 32
Straight Shooters184 | Lynch out, Flair in; EC preview; Jay White IWGP Champ; AEW Sells Out | 02/13/19Tweet
Becky Lynch was suspended for 60 days by Vince McMahon, and was replaced by Charlotte Flair in the main event of WrestleMania 35 against Ronda Rousey.
This got some heated reactions. But why? Why's creating an interesting storyline between the Rumble and Mania being a bad thing? Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the angle, why people are getting legitimately upset about it, and how everyone will react when Lynch returns to the story.
Before that, the guys quickly run down the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view this weekend and give their predictions on the event.
Jay White is the new IWGP...2019-02-141h 05
Straight Shooters183 | Does Charlotte Flair fit into Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey? | 02/06/19Tweet
With WWE needed to string out the story for two months, Becky Lynch was suspended in storyline this past week. It sure seems like Charlotte Flair will eventually be added to the Lynch/Rousey match at WrestleMania to make it a Triple Threat.
But Nick and Vaughn differ on whether that's a good or bad thing. Listen to their in-depth discussion about why Nick thinks adding Charlotte to the match could be a good thing while Vaughn thinks it should remain a one-on-one bout between Lynch and Rousey.
The guys also discuss possible WWE defections to AEW amid growing...2019-02-071h 14
Straight Shooters182 | Dean Ambrose Leaving WWE, Daniel Bryan’s New Belt, WrestleMania Matches and More | 01/30/19Tweet
It's been an eventful week in the world of professional wrestling, so Nick Piccone and Vaughn Johnson hit a myriad of topics this week.
First, Dean Ambrose notified WWE he wouldn't be renewing with the company and will finish up in April. That leaves it to the imagination of where he could wind up, or if he even goes to another company. He could decide to hang up the boots. He could decide to try out for the NFL (eh, not really.)
What Would Dean Do? Nick and Vaughn discuss the options Ambrose has outside of WWE and whether or...2019-01-311h 09
Straight Shooters181 | 2019 Royal Rumble Preview | 01/23/19Tweet
The 2019 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event is shaping up to be a great one on paper. Will it deliver on screen on Sunday, January 27th?
The THIRD MAN! Brian Isley joins the show after a long respite to help Nick and Vaughn run down the Rumble pay-per-view and give you predictions on what they think will happen.
But before that, Nick (@nickpiccone) and Vaughn (@VaughnMJohnson) discuss how people killed WWE over their Twitter reveal this past Sunday for some of the participants in the Women's Royal Rumble Match and just how weird all of the backlash was. It's not like WWE...2019-01-241h 05
Straight Shooters180 | Bálor vs. Lesnar, Women’s Tag Titles at EC, Biggest Royal Rumble Surprises | 01/16/19Tweet
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the latest in the WWE Universe. WWE decided to shake up the Universal Championship Match at the Royal Rumble, as now it will be Finn Bálor instead of Braun Strowman challenging "The Beast" Brock Lesnar in Phoenix on the 27th. The guys discuss their thoughts on the sudden change and what they think could happen.
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championships were unveiled this week, and it was announced that they will be decided inside the Elimination Chamber in February. Three tag teams from RAW and three tag teams from Sma...2019-01-171h 16
Straight Shooters179 | The Outlook of All Elite Wrestling | 01/10/19Tweet
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) discuss the latest on All Elite Wrestling after the company held its first rally this past Tuesday in Jacksonville. The guys discuss the current roster, the influx of talent from Oriental Wrestling Entertainment in China, the women's division and how the gender wage gap will be abolished, and their next big event happening in May at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
It's a full hour dedicated to a wrestling promotion that is promising to change the world.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Appl...2019-01-1159 min
Straight Shooters178 | RIP “Mean” Gene Okerlund, All Elite Wrestling | 01/02/19Tweet
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson) and Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) celebrate the life of one of, if not the, greatest interviewers in the history of professional wrestling, "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Okerlund passed away on January 2, 2019.
Listen as Vaughn and Nick talk about their memories of Okerlund, favorite moments, and what exactly he meant to the industry of professional wrestling.
Then, the guys shift to All Elite Wrestling and discuss the venture. What is a realistic goal for the new company? Will they ever compete with WWE? Will they get a good television deal. All this and more questions answered on this week's ed...2019-01-031h 04
Straight ShootersEP 177 | Top Stories of 2018 | 12/27/18Tweet
Vaughn Johnson (@VaughnMJohnson), Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) and Ryan Anderson (@gullyblanchard) recall the top stories in the world of wrestling during 2018.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (please rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, SoundCloud, Player FM and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Facebook: The Straight Shooters
E-mail: straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com
And you can now also become a Patron of The Straight Shooters! You can get exclusive content by myself and Vaughn Johnson by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/shootersradio! We’ll answer questions that...2018-12-271h 10
Straight ShootersEP 176 | WWE’s Newest “New Era” | 12/20/18Tweet
So WWE began a new era this past week. The thing is, it still looks and feels a lot like the same eras we've seen for over a decade.
This week, Vaughn and Nick talk about the newest New Era in WWE and what they think fans can expect from it. They also go over all of the eras in WWE's company history for a good ride down Memory Lane.
Listen to The Straight Shooters every Friday at 2:00 P.M. ET right here on WildfireRadio.com.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Po...2018-12-2058 min
Straight ShootersEP 175 | Writing A Show Is Hard, WWE TLC Preview | 12/14/18Tweet
Former WWE creative writer Jimmy Jacobs sparked a conversation about writing a television show this past week in response to the criticism of how RAW's ratings have fallen off a cliff recently. With RAW setting record lows almost every single week, Jacobs thought that he should stick up for the creative writers that probably more often than not get their good ideas shot down.
In this episode, Vaughn and Nick discuss the situation and try to figure out why RAW can't seem to get back on the right creative track.
They also preview the upcoming WWE TLC pay-per-view.
You can...2018-12-141h 09
Straight ShootersEP 174 | Gift Guide for Wrestling, RIP Dynamite Kid | 12/05/18Tweet
This week, the guys are giving a gift guide for the world of professional wrestling to ring in the holiday season.
They also pay tribute to one of the greats, Dynamite Kid, who passed away.
Listen to The Straight Shooters every Friday at 2:00 P.M. ET right here on WildfireRadio.com.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (make sure you rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio.
Follow us on Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thestraightshooters
E-mail us: straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com
And you can now a...2018-12-061h 03
Straight ShootersEP 173 | The U.K. Wrestling Scene | 11/28/18Tweet
WWE's made waves this past week in the United Kingdom by signing NXT UK talent to new contracts prohibiting them from working any independent promotions unless they are partners of WWE.
This has caused a bit of uneasiness over the pond with some fans saying U.K. professional wrestling is in turmoil.
This week, we discuss the whole situation in-depth.
Listen to The Straight Shooters every Friday at 2:00 P.M. ET right here on WildfireRadio.com.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (make sure you rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Sp...2018-11-2956 min
Straight ShootersEP 172 | Hart-Backlund SS ’94, Flair-Rhodes Starrcade ’85 Live Commentary | 11/21/18Tweet
This Thanksgiving, we're giving you a double feature of live commentary! First up, the WWF Championship is on the line at Survivor Series 1994 in a Submission Match as Bret Hart defends the championship against Mr. Bob Backlund! Both wrestlers have cornermen with towels and whoever throws in the towel first will lose the match for their respective guy. One of the more interesting finishes in wrestling history!
Then we revisit 1985 and Ric Flair defending the NWA Championship against fan favorite Dusty Rhodes at Starrcade! Will the American Dream reach the pinnacle?
This Thanksgiving, we're giving you a double feature...2018-11-221h 32
Straight ShootersEP 171 | Becky Lynch Injured, Daniel Bryan WWE Champion, Survivor Series Preview | 11.14.18Tweet
Before her big match against Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch suffered a "broken face" at the hands of Nia Jax Monday night during a brawl. Now with Charlotte Flair taking Lynch's spot, does this mean we're on track for a Rousey vs. Lynch match at WrestleMania? If Lynch's injuries are severe enough to have her drop the SmackDown Women's Championship, will WWE put her in position to pick up where she left off when she returns?
And what does this mean for Nia Jax? She's getting a huge amount of blame for this, but does she deserve it?
Along with th...2018-11-151h 11
Straight ShootersEP 170 | Looking Ahead to Survivor Series 2018 | 11/07/18Tweet
This week, the guys look ahead to the current Survivor Series card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch.
Listen to The Straight Shooters every Friday at 2:00 P.M. ET right here on WildfireRadio.com.
You can also subscribe to The Straight Shooters on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts (make sure you rate and review us!), Stitcher, Google Play, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio.
Follow us on Twitter: @ShootersRadio
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thestraightshooters
E-mail us: straightshooterspodcast@gmail.com
And you can now also become a Patron of The Straight Shooters! You can get exclusive content by myself an...2018-11-081h 09
Straight ShootersEP 169 | Thoughts on Crown Jewel, Chamber of Horrors Live Commentary | 10/31/18Tweet
Happy Halloween! This week, we're live commentating the Chamber of Horrors Match from Halloween Havoc 1991! Someone's going to get electrocuted! It's one of the best worst matches in wrestling history, so join us on this momentous occasion and follow along on the WWE Network at the 3:40 mark of Halloween Havoc 1991.
But before we have fun, we discuss a very serious issue with WWE deciding to go through with their Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia. Some pointed words from Vaughn Johnson and Nick Piccone as they discuss not only WWE's decision to continue with the event as planned, but...2018-11-0157 min
Straight ShootersEP 157 | Discussing WWE’s All-Women’s PPV, Thoughts on Hulk Hogan | 07/25/18Tweet
WWE officially announced an all-women's pay-per-view this past week on Monday Night RAW set for October 28th of this year. It was a ground-breaking announcement, and Stephanie McMahon was, of course, there to announce it.
Nick and Vaughn discuss the implications of the all-women's pay-per-view, what it means for the current talent, the future talent, if WWE will continue to do all-women's events, and more. What are the possible matches? Will Ronda Rousey headline the event in a one-on-one or maybe a multi-women match? The guys discuss and give their thoughts.
They also touch on Hulk Hogan, who was welcom...2018-07-261h 03