Opinion

Top 5: Shark Related Contributions to Wrestling

Published

7 years ago

July 24, 2018

This week marks the 30th anniversary of cable television’s most popular week-long extravaganza: Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Ronda Rousey appeared on Sunday night’s programming swimming with some of America’s favorite fish. I assume she provided the same ratings & YouTube boost that she does when she appears on Raw.

Pro wrestling has a lengthy history of shark involvement. Well, kind of. They aren’t as involved in the sports as bears, or dogs, or cats, or birds, or many different mammals. One could speculate that sharks would be more involved in wrestling if they could survive out of water. Wrestling & other sports have long been biased against competitors that are confined to oceans & aquariums.

Even so, here are the Top 5 Shark-Related Contributions to Wrestling.

5. San Jose’s Shark Tank

The SAP Center in San Jose is widely known as the Shark Tank thanks to their primary tenants, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. WWE’s big fishes have swam in for four PPV events over the years: the 1998 Royal Rumble, SummerSlam 2001, The 2007 Great American Bash, & Payback 2017. The biggest event on any of these shows was at the 1998 Rumble, where Shawn Michaels got his career-ending injury in a casket match with The Undertaker. Kane set Undertaker’s casket on fire after the match, and somehow Taker came back sooner. Go figure.

In an interesting quirk, the Tank has had a different official name for each of WWE’s PPV events. In 1998 it was simply known as the San Jose Arena. Money came into the picture in 2001, and SummerSlam was held at the Compaq Center. Compaq was purchased by HP, and by the time 2007 rolled around the Bash was held at the HP Pavilion. SAP purchased the naming rights in 2013, and Payback was at the SAP Center. I can’t wait to see what this arena’s name is the next time it hosts a PPV. We’ll call it the Shark Tank either way.

4. Shark Girl

I was a big Daffney fan. Those of you that listen to the Arc of Wrestling know that I was fond of most of the women in late-period WCW. It was a great time to be a socially awkward teenager that couldn’t get laid. Between women’s wrestling being at its most scantly clad, RollerJam’s spandex & Buffy the Vampire Slayer having a ridiculously large roster of pretty ladies, it truly was the Golden Age. I feel for today’s socially awkward teenagers that can’t get laid.

After WCW closed, Daffney bounced around from place to place. One of those places was TNA, where she adopted the persona of Shark Girl. Shark Girl mostly served as a valet for the next person on our list, but she did wrestle on occasion on the independent circuit. Shark Girl even had a match with Daffney at IWA Mid-South’s Volcano Girls 2, but I don’t know who donned the hood on that occasion.

That all being said, I’m more into the goth look than the animal costumes. Call me crazy.

3. Shark Boy

I remember Les Thatcher & the HWA guys raving about Shark Boy back in the day. He was a real talented worker with a gimmick that the boys loved, so he got a good amount of hype in the Cincinnati area. I wouldn’t say he ever lived up to their high expectations, but he did have a couple of lengthy stints in TNA where he was well-received by the audience.

There are two things I remember Shark Boy for. One was his weird tag team with New Jack. The other is where he got knocked on his head, woke up & became Stone Cold Shark Boy.

Christopher Daniels as Curry Man and Shark Boy doing a Stone Cold impression. You had to love TNA.

2. The Shark

John Tenta was a mountain of a man that went through his wrestling career with a variety of natural disaster-inspired names. First he was Earthquake in the WWF. Then he became Avalanche in WCW. Once the Three Faces of Fear gave way to the Dungeon of Doom, it was time to go in a different direction.

Shark Attack was an unnatural disaster. I guess you could refer to the DoD that way as well. They were WCW’s top heel faction for a time, full of unbelievable gimmicks & nonsense like The Shark. WCW eventually got real, and so did John Tenta.

He wasn’t a fish! Eventually Tenta went back to the WWF and became Golga, a masked Oddity obsessed with Eric Cartman for reasons left unexplained. Somewhat lost in the goofiness was the fact that Tenta was among the better big men in the ring of his time & could be used as a threat to any babyface.

1. The Shark Cage

Cages & pro wrestling go together like peanut butter & jelly. So it only makes sense that a cage traditionally lowered in the water to give marine biologists the chance to look at sharks with a modicum of safety would find usage in the sport.

Back in the olden days, the shark cage had matches inside of it. The babyface would talk about how the heel wouldn’t be able to avoid the punishment they deserved. Fans got excited by the idea of what would happen when their favorite got their hands on the bad guy.

The problem? Getting your hands on each other is pretty much all you can do.

As the Jay Strongbow vs. Don Kent match above illustrates, the shark cage is too confining to provide action. Aside from choking & punching, you can’t do much inside a Shark cage with an opponent. It sounded good as an idea, but you could only do it once before people caught on.

There had to be another way

Then somebody came up with a better idea. What if the manager of the bad guy was forced into the shark cage so they couldn’t interfere in the match? In a big arena you can raise the cage up in the air so the fans can see the manager helplessly watch their charges. Of course, the manager would fight being put in the cage, making it more satisfying when they were put in.

Jim Cornette being forced into a shark cage at the 1988 Great American Bash is a perfect example. He also had to wear a straitjacket, which goes to show how big a problem he was for the Midnight Express’s opponents. The Fantastics finally got a fair shake on this night.

Back when Jim Crockett Promotions did shark cage matches, the cage would be positioned in the entranceway. WWE puts the cage directly above the ring. That makes for a better camera shot & theoretically adds drama, but also makes it obvious that the person inside will drop stuff down to the ring, get out, or both. It rarely ends well for the good guy.

Which will make it that much better when Brock Lesnar loses the Universal Championship while Paul Heyman is in a shark cage hanging above the ring.

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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

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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