Opinion

Top 5: Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Snubs

Published

8 years ago

December 5, 2017

For all the crap that we give Dave Meltzer for his news reporting & vocal patterns, and how happy we get when he’s wrong about something, there’s one thing that I don’t think anybody can deny. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame is one of the most legitimate wrestling halls of fame out there.

For over twenty years, people that Dave trusts with a ballot have voted on various wrestlers’ merits to be included in a Hall of Fame. The best of the best, the creme de la creme. Sometimes, it seems like people get inducted too early. Other times, it feels like people are unjustly excluded.

Today, we focus on the excluded. These are my top five wrestlers that should be in the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame.

5. Dr. Wagner Jr.

Voters often comment about how there’s a bit of a logjam in the lucha category. It may be deeper than any other category, but the vote gets so split betwen deserving candidates that nobody can get the needed amount of votes to get in. The process continues year after year, and at this point it’s just gotten ridiculous. Somebody needs to get in in order to thin out the ballot.

I felt like this would be Wagner’s year. I’m biased. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s my favorite luchador. He lost his mask earlier in 2017 in the biggest money match in the history of Mexican wrestling. I think his lackluster run in Lucha Underground, a company that’s fallen on hard times critically, was held against him by voters. Which isn’t entirely fair, but when a newsletter based in America votes on things like this, they’ll value shows airing in the United States in the English language over Mexican shows.

4. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig

The knock on Hennig is that he wasn’t much of a draw. His program with Hulk Hogan didn’t exactly set the box office on fire. His reign as AWA Champion came long after that company could hope to draw a majority of the marketplace.

The thing is that Hall of Famers aren’t just built on dollars. They’re built on memories. On fame. I know so many people that cite Hennig as one of their favorite wrestlers of all time. He’s still considered the gold standard of what an Intercontinental Champion should be. He worked a style that appealed to a smarter crowd that was in for the long haul. From my perspective, he was a great bumper & his matches with Bret Hart rank among the best I’ve ever seen. I’d vote him in purely based on those matches.

3. Junkyard Dog

JYD wasn’t one of the most critically-acclaimed wrestlers of all time. His work in WWF was mediocre at best, and once he got past his prime it was downright appalling. He had bad matches with late 80s-early 90s Ric Flair, for crying out loud. He got horiffic reviews in the Observer, and rightfully so at that point.

However, this perception sells short the fact that he was Mid-South Wrestling’s top drawing card & the only guy that could fill up the Superdome on a regular basis. Bill Watts kept trying to find other African American wrestlers to fill the Dog’s shoes, and he never hit on the right combination again. Dog was a special dude. He was a folk hero in New Orleans, and once he got to the WWF he was a solid #2 babyface behind Huilk Hogan for quite some time.

If Dave didn’t name this guy the Junk Food Dog, he’d probably be in.

2. Gorilla Monsoon

There are very few people without the last name of McMahon that have been more important to WWE’s history than Gorilla. He was one of Vince Sr’s partners & right-hand men, and his position with the company was ensured for life when Vince Jr. purchased the company. Behind the scenes, he had his own position where he called the shots, still called the Gorilla Position to this day. In front of the camera, he was the lead announcer that called most of the WWF’s major events & formed memorable teams with Bobby Heenan & Jesse Ventura.

It was Gorilla’s announcing that rubbed Dave the wrong way. While people like me appreciated Gorilla’s candor & humor, the wrestlers that talked to Dave would bitch about how Gorilla killed their rest holds & execution of offense by pointing out the flaws, and how he didn’t take everything they did super seriously. Dave’s negative reviews hurt Gorilla’s perception with his audience, and to this day they won’t give him the respect he earned within the company.

1. Arn Anderson

Arn was a wrestler’s wrestler, and the smart fan’s wrestler. He was always in the right place at the right time. His execution of moves like the DDT & spinebuster had no peer. He was one of the most well-spoken promos in the history of the business. He was the Enforcer of the Four Horsemen, Ric Flair’s best friend, the first man in more War Games matches than anybody & the focal point of several successful tag teams.

Yet he isn’t in the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame.

The knock is that Arn was never the guy, brother. He was always in the Naitch’s shadow. He never carried a territory. He was the secondary champion, not the champion. I don’t buy this argument. Wrestling has all sorts of different roles. Some guys were meant to be leading men, and others were meant to be supporting actors. Arn Anderson was the best supporting actor I’ve ever seen. No wrestling Hall of Fame without him is complete.

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Related Topics:Arn Anderson Curt Hennig Dave Meltzer Dr. Wagner Jr Featured Gorilla Monsoon Junkyard Dog Mr. Perfect Top 5

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1