Opinion

DeMarco: Don’t Worry About The Revival

Published

7 years ago

January 23, 2018

April 4, 2017 was a night that the WWE Universe won’t soon forget. Vince McMahon revealed a new Raw General Manager in Kurt Angle, and Finn Balor made his return from injury. But for many hardcore wrestling fans, this edition of Raw After Mania will be remembered for something much different. It was the night The Revival made their WWE main roster debuts.

Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder burst onto the scene on WWE Raw, garnering early wins against The New Day before Big E, Xavier Woods, and ofi Kingston made their way to WWE Smackdown Live. But then injuries hit The Revival, keeping them out of action for a better portion of the remainder of 2017.

Prior to debuting on WWE Raw, Dash and Dawson had an improbable rise to the top of WWE NXT, capturing the NXT Tag Team Championships on two separate occasions. But much like their run on WWE Raw, they didn’t always seem to have the cards in their favor.

Starting out as a team seemingly dressed as Mechanics (capitalized on purpose), Dash and Dawson were long this team tearing it up at NXT house shows, this mythical power fans spoke highly of. The rare sniff they’d get on NXT television wouldn’t amount to much. They had two televised matches in 2014, both losses, before returning in 2015 to defeat Enzo and Cass. This would launch then through the first Dusty Rhodes Classic, leading to their Takeover debut–a loss to eventual Dusty Classic winners Samoa Joe and Finn Balor.

They picked up steam with a non-title win against The Vaudevillians, gained some notoriety by taking out Enzo and Cass, and had their first real moment in the sun when they defeated the floundering Vaudevillians once more. This time that win was for the NXT Tag Team Championships. they successfully defeated Enzo and Cass in their first Takeover win (Takeover: London), and were eventually christened “The Revival.”

The name seemed to hold extra meaning, as for so many the duo signified a renaissance–or perhaps a revival–to tag team wrestling in WWE. Tag team wrestling hadn’t disappeared, but Dash and Dawson signaled a return to tag team wrestling “done right.” They employed old school tactics like isolating a body part and cutting the ring in half. They mastered the art of the quick tag, of knowing their partner’s every move, and always being in the right place at the right time.

TWO TIME! NXT Tag Team Champions.

They would spark a small feud with American Alpha, that would see the teams trade the tag team titles. But it was their feud with #DIY, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, that solidified them not as one of the best tag teams in WWE/NXT, but the entire world.

They would eventually fall to DIY in a two-out-of-three falls match to end their feud, and that match would be named 2016’s Match Of The Year for all of WWE. Takeover: Orlando would see their final NXT televised appearance, failing to regain the championships for a third time in a triple threat elimination match with DIY and NXT’s newest dominant force, The Authors Of Pain.

Two nights later, their debut on Raw happened, and it seemed primed to see their roll continue.

Things don’t always go as planned, and when you fast forward to today, the Revival is coming off of an ass-kicking at the hands of both D-Generation X and The Balor Club on the 25th Anniversary Edition of Raw. But that #Raw25 loss notwithstanding, the Revival is in position to make their way to the top.

However, most fans on the internet don’t see it that way.

I’m all for getting #BalorClub over but they didn’t need to fight the Revival to do so.. And now they are getting buried by everyone.. Cool #RAW25

— BreakingDownTheRing (@BDRcast) January 23, 2018

#Raw1000 was full of huge surprising moments, and the best that this got was a solid opening segment. #RAW25 was nowhere near as good, although I love the Miz as #ICChampion

However, I feel horrible for the Revival #ProtectTheRevival

— Win Column Sports (@WCSportsCA) January 23, 2018

The frustration is not unfounded, but I honestly believe The Revival will be just fine. It’s all about timing.

Take a look at The New Day. The now Iconic Trio were plastered all over the Kickoff at WrestleMania 31, got promoted to lose to The League Of Nations (Remember them? Me neither!) at WrestleMania 32, followed by a hosting gig at WrestleMania 33. They’re one of the top merchandise sellers on WWE Shop as well. No one saw this coming when they debuted as an evangelical church choir (even though they pulled that act off with brilliance, too).

The New Day’s best work in 2017 was against The Usos, who are currently regarded by most as the best tag team in the world (and they’re the first ever Chairshot Team Of The Year, too!). It wasn’t always this way for Jimmy and Jey, as the brothers have yet to crack a WrestleMania main card. This looks to change in 2018 with WrestleMania 34.

Where does The Revival fit in with all this?

They are a talented tag team who can talk with the best of ’em, and given the way WWE treats tag teams, a dependable pairing of workhorses that can get in and get out, or can work a long TV match, can be quite valuable for quite some time. But can they “recover” from a #Raw25 “burial?”

Believe it or not, this doesn’t hurt The Revival!

Don’t be silly…of course they can! The precedent here is set by Jinder Mahal, now dubbed “The Maharaja” and 2017’s biggest surprise with his reign as WWE Champion.

Jinder wasn’t always at this level, which was actually the biggest criticism of his push. But Jinder Mahal had a similar moment to what The Revival experienced on Monday, his being in the WrestleMania 33 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Jinder was used as the antagonist for Rob Gronkowski, bringing the New England Patriots Super Bowl winning tight end out of the crowd and into the ring. Jinder did his job, making Gronk look like a million bucks and putting over Mojo Rawley in the process.

His reward? A move to Smackdown and a reign as WWE Champion!

The Revival were used at #Raw25 as cannon fodder for D-Generation X and The Balor Club, but in WWE’s eyes this can only help them. They will actually be in a position to climb, likely finding themselves in the Raw Tag Team Championship picture by WrestleMania 34. And after? well I fully expect The Usos to move to Raw in a shake-up this year, and when they do we’ll all be treated to the magic made Jimmy, Jey, Dash, and Dawson.

Don’t worry about The Revival, they’ll be just fine!

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TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Related Topics:Authors of Pain Featured Featured Big Johnny Gargano Raw Tag Team Wrestling The New Day The Revival The Usos Tommaso Ciampa WWE

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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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FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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