Opinion

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: You Won’t Ever Be Happy, Will Ya?

Published

7 years ago

March 2, 2018

On January 24, 2016, the unthinkable happened. Roman Reigns entered the Royal Rumble at number one, followed by Rusev at number two. Roman would dispatch of the Bulgarian Brute before his 90 seconds elapsed–and this was a Rusev who was about to get his only WrestleMania win. When the clock struck zero, many (including me) assumed another victim was headed to the ring. Instead it was AJ Styles.

At the time, the response was “yes, THAT AJ STYLES.” The cornerstone of TNA from the day they opened their doors, and the man who replaced Prince Devitt/Finn Balor as the leader of Bullet Club in New Japan and Ring of Honor. AJ debuted at number three in the 2016 WWE Royal Rumble, one of the most shocking moments in a year that included the return of Shane McMahon, the return of the brand split, Kevin Owens winning the Universal Championship, and the in-ring return of Goldberg.

AJ Styles would stay in that Royal Rumble for a hair under 29 minutes, would main event his second ever pay-per-view against Roman Reigns at Fastlane, and would make his WrestleMania debut against Chris Jericho in front of over 100,000 fans.

That’s AJ Styles’ only Royal Rumble to date, because he’s been WWE Champion for the other two. In fact, AJ Styles has been in WWE for 767 days as of March 1, 2018. He is a four-time champion (two WWE Championships and two United States Championships). As of this writing (March 1), he has held the WWE Championship for 253 of his 767 days in WWE.

That’s 33% of his time in WWE. For a third of AJ Styles’ time in WWE, he has been WWE Champion! He’s also spent 91 days as United States Champion, bringing his total time in WWE as a champion to 344 days. This represents 44.9% of this time in WWE.

AJ Styles is 40 days shy of spending half of his time in WWE so far as a champion. Yet people complain. I mean it sucks, right, because he’s “stuck” in a storyline with Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. John Cena, one of the four biggest stars in company history, has wins over AJ Styles. So that has to be terrible, right?

Shinsuke Nakamura made his WWE debut in NXT on April 1, 2016, defeating Sami Zayn at Takeover: Dallas. He is a two time NXT Champion, won the 2018 Royal Rumble by eliminating John Cena and Roman Reigns, and has already challenged for the WWE Championship more than once, including at the second biggest show of the year in SummerSlam.

But that sucks, right, because it was against Jinder Mahal?

AJ Styles Shinsuke Nakamura Money In The Bank

When AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura pushed a ladder aside at the 2017 Money In The Bank pay-per-view, the internet orgasm was impossible to contain. The immediate thought was a desire to see these two men square off at wrestling’s grandest stage: WrestleMania.

AJ Styles would go on to defeat Jinder Mahal to regain the WWE Championship (as I predicted), and Shinsuke Nakamura would win the Royal Rumble and the right to challenge Styles in front of over 70,000 people at the Superdome in New Orleans.

I mean, that’s like three WrestleKingdoms!

But it sucks, right? I mean it isn’t really a “feud,” it’s just a match. Now it has to be a feud, because we want more. And here’s what you’re going to say after the match takes place: “It was good, but it wasn’t as good as it was in the Tokyo Dome.” Oh, and it didn’t go on last, so it sucked.

And if you think the WrestleMania 34 match between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura is going to disappoint, you’re right. Also, if you the WrestleMania 34 match between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura is going to be amazing, you’re right.

You control your own fandom, and as with most things in life, you are as happy as you decide to be.

And if you don’t like that statement, you’ve done it to yourselves.

And now you’re mad at me. Your fault, too.

The fact is, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles can never make everyone happy. The expectation level is too high. Shinsuke Nakamura came to WWE to take it easy. He’s making money by using four moves and putting hands over his crotch and yelling “C’MOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN!” to his opponents. You blame WWE, because it can’t possibly be Shinsuke’s fault!

AJ Styles, on the other hand. Has worked his ass off for years, including his WWE run. He appears to be ageless, and has been a stable and consistent part of the roster since the day he showed up. Upon his debut, it already felt like he’d been thre for a while. 767 days in, it’s hard to imagine a WWE without AJ Styles.

Now I am hearing complaints that AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura should be the greatest feud of the year, but is being wasted. Mind you, we still have over five weeks until WrestleMania, and Fastlane is in 10 days. When that show is over, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura will still have four weeks to build their WrestleMania match.

The one in front of 70,000+ fans. In a giant stadium. With a giant stage. Under a billion lights. And Nakamura is probably going to win.

But that won’t matter, because you won’t like one spot, or one no-sell. It won’t be perfect because it can’t be perfect–you’ve already decided it wasn’t and we are still over 5 weeks away.

Whose fault is that? Not mine, and not WWE’s. It’s yours, because you are being given the match you want on the stage you want, and you’re not happy. Because you’ll never be happy, until you choose to be.

I realize that many of you reading this are excited about the match, and will enjoy it. You will be happy, because wrestling is your happy place. I salute you, friend, because despite being a card carrying member of the Internet Wrestling Community (I mean, you were reading The Chairshot before it got big!), you still enjoy wrestling.

Welcome, friend. Let’s enjoy wrestling…together.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

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!

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

Related Topics:AJ Styles Featured Big NJPW Road To WrestleMania Shinsuke Nakamura Smackdown Tokyo Dome WrestleMania 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!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY – POD is WAR (Los Tres Friends)

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

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

All Shows On Demand

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Listen, like, subscribe, and share!

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