Opinion

What Will WWE Do With John Cena At WrestleMania?

Published

7 years ago

March 7, 2018

John Cena. One of the most divisive names in the history of WWE. Whether you love him or hate him, there is no denying the monumental impact he has had on the company and the loyalty he has shown throughout his 16 years in the business. He is still a huge draw capable of bringing in millions of casual viewers from all over the world and he has earned the respect of even the most Anti Cena member of the WWE Universe, myself included. But now we find ourselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory… it is less than 5 weeks until WrestleMania 34 and Super Cena still has no concrete plan set in place, with not even a sniff of a potential rivalry starting. Despite his inclusion in the main event at the final PPV on the road to WrestleMania, Smackdown Live’s Fastlane, Big Match John finds himself with little direction and even less purpose. So, who could John take on at the Showcase of The Immortals? Let’s take a look at some of the widely rumoured potential opponents, fantasy bookings and most likely superstars to go one on one with the face that used to run the place…

The Undertaker

The most obvious choice but also the one which brings the most uncertainty would be The Undertaker. Taker is arguably the greatest of all time in the majority of fans eyes, but his current status within the WWE is very much up in the air. He gave the strongest indication ever that he was finally hanging up his boots after defeat to Roman Reigns at last years event, and his rare out of character appearance on WWE 24 Orlando suggested he would be happy if that was his last appearance for the company… but if history has taught us one thing, you just never know when it comes to The Deadman. The good thing about this potential feud is that despite the age of both men, their long storied careers and part time schedule it would still feel fairly fresh – both men have managed to evade the attention of the other throughout the years, and it would be nice to see a completely new rivalry started even this late into their journeys. There could even be a little more weight added to proceedings by having both men claim to be the GOAT or the most influential to set foot in the ring, potentially even making this a career vs career contest.

The real sticking point with this one though is who do WWE give the win to? Neither man needs the victory at this point of their careers, and with no title up for grabs it becomes even harder to call. The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak is long gone, so a win does virtually nothing for him and wouldn’t even help to make amends with the fans for the fact he has been toppled twice in his own back yard. Likewise, the loss doesn’t damage him too much. The defeat to Brock Lesnar was one of the greatest shocks in WWE history, and the subsequent loss to Roman Reigns even more so as nobody expected another great big L to be added to the legendary tally… at this point a third loss would probably be expected and would struggle to raise many eyebrows. The problem is, the exact same points can be made for Cena. The 16 time world champion also doesn’t need the win and doesn’t suffer from the loss either, so I really am at a crossroad here. Taker wins, retires on a high, Cena bows out for a while after failing and makes sporadic The Rock style appearances. Cena wins, leaves for a while on the ultimate high, Taker retires once and for all, finally enters the Hall of Fame.

That is both the beauty and the beast of this match –Unpredictability. WWE fans love to be kept guessing so that we can strike up our own theories and fantasy book until we are blue in the face. The match also makes sense from a business standpoint. Two of the companies biggest and greatest stars facing eachother on the biggest night of the year can only mean one thing… $$$.

There is another reason however that this match should not take place. The Undertakers legacy is immense, there is no doubt about that, and he has had some outstanding matches along the way. His encounters with HHH and Shawn Michaels, both men losing to Taker on multiple occasions, were legendary and iconic despite The Deadman clearly lagging in the ring. Fast forward a few years to his matches against Brock Lesnar, Bray Wyatt, Shane McMahon and Roman Reigns… they were truly difficult to watch. A once awe inspiring, intimidating, dominating mountain of a man was made to look weak and past his prime, and there is only one sad, uncomfortable reason for that.. he IS past his prime. Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing creating true Mania moments, but when it is overdone you end up seeing your heroes embarrassed and looking like a shell of their former selves. Taker doesn’t need this match, he doesn’t need to return to WrestleMania or WWE in general for that matter. Which makes me all the more certain that this match will happen. If there is one thing WWE love to do more than anything else, its flog a dead horse.

However, Cena could be used for much bigger and better things, such as putting over the next big thing…

Braun Strowman

That next big thing comes in the shape of The Monster Among Men. There aren’t many superstars who can claim to have had a better 2017 than Strowman despite him still not holding a major championship. He was a key component in the title scene at Summerslam, had the rivalry of the year with Roman Reigns, made Kane relevant again, repeatedly made Brock Lesnar his bitch, tipped over an ambulance and a semi truck, pulled down scaffolding with a grappling hook on top of Lesnar and Kane, went on multiple rampages destroying the arena and everyone in his path, developed his character beyond anyone’s expectations, smashed a giant bass over Elias’ back after singing a song to him, coined two of the best catchphrases in years (Get These Hands! & I’m Not Finished With You!) and even managed to bring out great performances and matches from Big Show. One of the most amazing things about Strowman is the ease with which he can switch between being a monster one week, a goofball the next and then back to being the monster again. It should also be noted that he isn’t your typical giant by any means, he is lightning fast for someone of his size and regularly pulls off huge dropkicks and top rope moves. In two short years he has gone from being a lumbering mess with The Wyatt Family to being one of, if not the, best big guy in WWE history.

He now finds himself in a similar situation to Cena though. Strowman has done everything in his power to show he is worthy of opportunities, but despite being places into major feuds he keeps coming up short and now he finds himself with not a lot going on. The closest thing he has to a rivalry right now would be Elias, and as entertaining as it has been this doesn’t do much for either man. They’re both over in a huge way, but in a straight up contest there would only ever be one winner and this will only end up hurting Elias going forward. The great thing about having Cena take on Strowman is that we have witnessed Cena beat monsters and giants many times before, so it gives Strowman some genuine competition for once. We’ve seen Strowman take down some huge names over the last two years and seen WWE show huge faith in him, but a victory over Cena on the grandest stage of them all could push him to the moon and back.

This is another scenario which doesn’t hurt Cena in the slightest. He wouldn’t be losing to a flash in the pan superstar who will be forgotten about in a few months, he would be losing to a dominant killer who is destined to be the top guy at some point down the road. Plus there is no shame in losing to a man who can throw Lesnar around like a ragdoll. Cena has made it clear he is happy to help put over new talent, and after the impact Strowman has made, Cena could help propel him to stardom. Speaking of impact…

Elias

How about a guitar across the back for impact? Elias and Cena had the makings of a nice little rivalry starting back on Christmas Day last year when Elias attacked Mr Hustle Loyalty Respect with his trusty instrument (okay, okay settle down children). The rivalry had to be waylaid briefly while the Elimination Chamber main event scene was sorted out, but now would be the perfect time to rekindle the feud. Elias is another guy who has come a long way in a short time, just like Strowman, but needs one great rivalry to really put him over rather than the drips and drabs he has been feeding off. He has quickly gone from making a few mysterious backstage appearances, to an uninspiring feud with Jason Jordan (really WWE?) to putting on main event calibre matches with Reigns and Cena in which he was the main attraction and needed no carrying throughout the contests whatsoever.

Elias is all the way over right now in terms of his gimmick and in ring ability but is still some way off from being championship material. We’ve already seen great chemistry between the two men in their recent encounters, and a WrestleMania victory over a name like Cena could be the start of a long and prosperous career. Even if Elias was to win this matchup, I would definitely think about moving him over to SDLive where the roster is thin on the ground and needs another good heel. RAW is full to the brim around the Universal and Intercontinental Championship scenes, so potentially entering him in to the United States Championship scene with new opponents could help to keep him from going stale. Many would say Elias isn’t established enough yet to defeat someone as prolific as Cena, but surely Fandango’s WrestleMania victory over Chris Jericho was weirder? Speaking of weird decisions…

Rey Mysterio

Bizarre. The only word to describe it. Seeing Rey appear at the Royal Rumble this year was a fantastic moment and one which brought back some phenomenal memories. We’ve seen some brilliant, strange and unexpected returns throughout the years but its very rare they lead on to more than just a brief cameo. Recent rumours would suggest that Rey will be bucking that trend and returning to face Cena at Mania, which really raises just the one question… WHY!?

Rey returning would be cool don’t get me wrong, he looked in amazing shape at the Rumble and showed he hasn’t lost a step in the ring but it just doesn’t make any sense when you consider where he is at in his career. He has continued to find success everywhere he has been since departing WWE, and is still booked as a major star in any promotion he sets foot in… at this point Rey doesn’t need WWE. The one constant theme around WWE in recent years is fans complaining about part timers returning for a big pay day. We have a Universal Champion who appears 10 times a year, Cena off somewhere doing his best impression of The Rock, Jericho prioritising his music career… the only exception would be The Undertaker who has put in 30 years of his life and should be allowed to pop in to say hello whenever he feels like it. Rey has nothing to prove, nothing to gain, has options falling at his feet in terms of getting regular work elsewhere and unfortunately would more than likely be booed by a lot fans. WWE are turning us against our favourite superstars of the past by refusing to focus on the present and the future.

Please WWE. Stop. Just give it a rest. There’s no need, it cheapens WrestleMania and doesn’t make sense. While we are on the subject of things which make no sense…

Finn Balor

Finn Balor’s treatment throughout most of 2017 made absolutely no sense either. The first ever Universal Champion had a year to forget after returning from his long-term injury and has only recently found himself as part of WWE’s major plans around the Intercontinental Championship heading into WrestleMania season. Only 4 short months ago, Finn was about to walk in to a comical farce of a match at TLC which would have seen him doing his very best Tony The Tiger impression while facing Bray Wyatt dressed in drag pretending to be his dead sister. Yep. That nearly happened.

Finn is undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in the world right now, incredibly popular with the fans and is right up there with Strowman as one of the next big stars to carry WWE forward unto the future. It is strongly believed that some members of WWE management still don’t view Balor as the future of the business due to various factors including his size, his injury record and lacklustre feuds up to now, but Cena’s backstage influence and his relationship with the WWE’s higher-ups could easily see these doubts set aside with one recommendation. This match would undoubtedly be a show stealer, Finn has always treated us to great matches and Cena has shown some of his best ever work over the last 12 months against the likes of AJ Styles. This could quite easily be Finn’s best rivalry to date and be the making of him in WWE.

Samoa Joe

This. This is the one for me. Joe has been out injured for a short while and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. He was an integral part of the Universal Championship scene leading into Summerslam, had a great rivalry with all three members of The Shield and had solidified himself as one of the best heels the company had to offer with his attack on Paul Heyman. Joe would certainly have made a major impact in the Royal Rumble and was nailed on for a huge push, but as much as his injury derailed his career slightly it could have been a blessing in disguise for the Samoan Submission Machine. A pissed off Joe could come back to RAW looking to make up for lost time, immediately starts taking people out left right and centre and then sends a challenge to the entire roster for WrestleMania. Who should answer? The leader of the Cenation of course.

Joe is absolute fire on the mic, bringing a level of intensity which you don’t always get from the larger powerhouse superstars, and his potential promos with Cena have me foaming at the mouth. Their wrestling styles compliment eachother to perfection, they both have the advantage of many years of experience at the top level and despite their career trajectories taking very different paths they can both claim to be the top stars in their respective promotions which could be something to sink their teeth into during back and forth verbal sparring. With the correct booking behind it, this could prove to be Cena’s greatest rivalry to date.

This could well prove to be the last WrestleMania for John Cena, so it needs to be a good one. Regardless of your views on WWE’s poster boy, very few men or women have made an impact the size of his and he deserves one more great Mania moment to be remembered by. His most likely opponent? The Undertaker. The one I want to see? Samoa Joe.

John Cena’s time is very nearly up… and his time to cement his legacy is certainly now.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

Published

20 hours ago

April 18, 2025

PC Tunney

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

AJ – The New Day
Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

AJ – Jade Cargill
Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
DJ – Jacob Fatu
DPP – Jacob Fatu
Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

AJ – Tiffany Straton
Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
DPP – Tiffany Stratton
Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

AJ – El Grande Americano
Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
DJ – Rey Mysterio
DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
Rob – El Grande Americano
Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

AJ – Jey Uso
Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

AJ – Roman Reigns
Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

AJ – Iyo Sky
Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

AJ – Dominik Mysterio
Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
Rob – Damien Priest
Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
Patrick – Nick Aldis
Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

AJ – Logan Paul
Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

AJ – Liv & Raquel
Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

AJ – Cody Rhodes
Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

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 wait all year for this 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

For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com

Prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot plenty of GREAT t-shirt designs! Makes an awesome gift!!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY – POD is WAR

FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

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

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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DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!

5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.

4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.

3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…

2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.

1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!

10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.
The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
“End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.
Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).
The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.
Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.

Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.