Opinion

RAW WARS – Episode III – This is Nia Jax’s Swamp

Published

7 years ago

May 30, 2018

Nia Jax has turned heel again. At least, this is the conclusion many have drawn after the Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey segment on the 28 May episode of RAW. Allegedly, Nia became the bully and thus undermined all her anti-bullying efforts during her face run. Was Alexa Bliss right? Was Nia Jax the bully all along and Alexa the victim?

To quote Seth Rollins: that’s a hard no. Neither did Nia Jax turn heel on Monday, nor did she bully someone. How do I justify my take on the situation? Well, as always, I look at other cultural products and link them to the WWE, trying to make sense of it all. Ironically, the inspiration for this opinion piece comes from none other than Ronda Rousey herself. Or, to be more precise, her theme song Bad Reputation, which also features in the movie Shrek. By analysing Shrek’s behaviour and role in the movie, it will be clear that Nia is still one of the good gals.

No Secrecy Involved

At the beginning of the movie, Shrek encounters a mob that came to his swamp to fight him. The villagers talk among themselves and Shrek overhears it. He reveals himself to them and corrects their notions of what an ogre might do to them, intimidating them in the process. Being rather blunt about this, he does not try to hide anything from them. Then he even gives them the chance to run away, laughing as he watches them.

Nia Jax’ exhibition against the jobber started with Nia demonstrating how she would counter the Armbar. Would a heel give away her secret tactic before the great match? Absolutely not, as heels usually act smarter than faces. Showing the game plan before a match is a very un-heelish thing to do. Nia later went on to inform Rousey that the latter has never encountered someone like The Irresistible Force in the UFC. Instead of leaving Rousey in the dark, Nia prepares her mentally, so that all parties involved know what to expect. Since when have openness and honesty become heel traits?

Showing Muscles

One of the most famous scenes in Shrek is the fight that takes place at Duloc. While Bad Reputation is playing, Shrek defeats the knights, using several wrestling moves. He starts with basic attacks, but as the fight progresses, he uses fancier moves, showcasing his abilities. The crowd cheers and eggs him on to use a chair, which he does. Yet, as soon as the last knight is defeated, Shrek stops fighting and does not attack his opponents any further.

After the jobber was ready to fight again, Nia Jax picked her up and performed a Samoan Drop. She also showed Ronda her Leg Drop and a Rolling Senton. After the latter, the referee signaled Nia that her opponent could take no more. And what did Nia do? She attacked her no further. A heel would have continued with the attacks, showing her superiority and viciousness. Even when Rousey followed her invitation to the ring, Nia did not lay a hand on her. She even turned her back on her opponent when exiting the ring, which is not the smartest thing to do. As pointed out earlier, faces tend to do less-than-smart or even outright stupid things. Heels by contrast use every opportunity to get a cheap shot in.

Layers Over Layers

Think back to last week’s RAW. Stephanie McMahon, in true heel fashion, riled Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey up, getting some barbs in. And the two women, like in true face fashion, fell for it. The remarks concerning Nia’s championship matches against Alexa Bliss must have stung. You also have to consider where Nia comes from. Nia comes basically from wrestling royalty, as many of her family members are also in the business. Nia lives and breathes wrestling. And then, suddenly this UFC attraction comes in and steals the thunder of the established wrestlers. This didn’t sit right with Nia and she made her thoughts on that known via twitter. Shrek sets out on his adventure to reclaim his swamp and he is celebrated as a hero. He is the good guy of the story. But when Nia tries to protect her yard swamp, she suddenly becomes a bad person again?

Things are often more complicated than they initially appear. The same can be said for people. It is Shrek who brings up the onion analogy. He claims that he is more layered than people give him credit for. I argue that the same thing can be said about Nia and faces in general. There are different kinds of faces, just as there are different varieties of heels as well. Rey Cash has written an amazing article on the nuances of characters. I think people jumped to the wrong conclusion on Nia. Especially as Braun Strowman displayed the same tactics on the same RAW episode, but I don’t hear him being referred to as anything, but a babyface.

For now, Nia Jax is still a babyface, trying to protect her swamp from intruders. A girl should do what she wants to do and not give a damn about her reputation. Really, really.

What do you think? Leave a comment below or message me on Twitter @KirstinHerzog1.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

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

Published

3 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

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

2 months 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