Opinion

How To Compete With WWE: A Business Plan

This is how to compete with the WWE, in business plan form.

Published

6 years ago

November 10, 2018

Rey Cash

Could someone compete with WWE? Rey Cash puts together a true to form business plan that addresses the obvious, and not so obvious, moves someone needs to make to compete with Vince McMahon.

For nearly 40 years, World Wrestling Entertainment has been the preeminent wrestling organization in the world. They’ve ascended to heights no other company could ever dream of, all the while defeating their closest competition so forcefully, that it’s been nearly 15 years since there has even been a viable number two. What has Vince done so well that nobody else, sans Eric Bischoff and Ted Turner for 83 weeks, could replicate to this level? How is the WWE is much stronger than everybody else? Or, maybe the question should be, why is nobody else able to be as strong as the WWE?

Those two questions are some that fans spend days debating. There’s no denying that there is an air of WWE fatigue; I mean, they’re their own competition! And while plenty of other companies have taken the de facto mantle as the number two wrestling organization in the world, nobody has gotten as close as WCW did in the late 90s. So, how do we change that? What will it take for another wrestling company to legitimately compete with the WWE?

First, before we even begin to think of how that’s possible, we have to acknowledge a few things. Realistically, competing with WWE is a fairly futile idea. It’s not impossible, but highly improbable. WWE controls the entire market share for professional wrestling. The reason that they can get 2 separate $1 billion deals is because for 25+ years, they’ve had a consistently top drawing show on two separate nights without taking a week off. Every major American star of the past 40 years has spent some time in the WWE world. It’s truly the juggernaut of its industry.

So, what a company would have to achieve before they can even think about competing is to steal some of the market share of the wrestling industry, have at least 25 years of consistent top-level business, and create at least 5 home-grown world-wide stars. And this is the bare minimum they’d need to achieve to be considered on the same playing field. WWE has created stars who the entire world knows, such as Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, John Cena, The Undertaker, Dave Bautista, and to a lesser extent, guys like Ric Flair, Triple H, and of course, Vince McMahon himself. A new company would have to do the same so that when fans think of that wrestler, they think of their respective company.

So, let’s break down what a company could do in the mean time to compete. I’ve come up with 12 things that a new company can do to make a dent in the market share and to start to become a viable number two in a fairly quick amount of time. Now, this is akin to fantasy booking, but I tried to be ultimately realistic in all of my ideas. This will be fairly long, so bear with me.

Hire a Hollywood director and/or producer to run the production

One of the major things that sets WWE apart from other companies is their production. It’s impeccable. It’s head and shoulders ahead of all of the competition. The graphics, the set designs, the video packages…all of it has set a precedent of how we expect to view wrestling. This is the very first step for a new company to start to compete. Having a Hollywood producer or a director will allow for a professional vision and a different lens, all to make the product look the absolute best and hopefully different than the WWE.

Hire a mix of former wrestling people and Hollywood writers for the creative team

I realize that this infuriates some die-hard fans, but wrestling is and always has been an entertainment entity. So, while what happens in the ring can largely be sport, the storylines and plots have to be entertainment based. So, while the WWE has too many Hollywood writers and other companies have none, a perfect mix is the desired goal. So, I’m thinking of maybe Jim Cornette, Dave Lagana, and Jake Roberts, and Max Landis, Freddy Prinze Jr., and Seth Green on the Hollywood sign. The key is a mixture of different styles and ideals, and you want writers who are fans of the business. I’d also have two wildcard writers involved. That way, maybe you could get some buzz by hiring an actual fan with a writing background, or you could have a place for a current wrestler or something of the like. For the record, I have a head booker in mind, but I’ll mention that person later.

EMBRACE the casual fan…

This will also infuriate the die-hard wrestling community, but casual fans are what takes a wrestling company from a small Indy organization to a global powerhouse. Every company has patrons who will support no matter what or will never support no matter what. It’s the 80-10-10 rule. 10% of people will love you regardless, 10% will hate you regardless; the goal is to cater to that 80%. This is why the WWE is king, and all of the other companies are struggling to reach their level. WWE has billion-dollar deals in America, high paying deals in other major countries, has its own wrestling network with a free first month for new subscribers, and storylines that are catered to create buzz among casual fans. The casual dollar is what can help grow the company into a powerhouse.

…but CATER to the die-hard fan…

While everything I said in the prior paragraph is true and paramount to competing at the highest level, you have to cater to your main base. This is the part where a good portion of the fan base is disgruntled. Raw and Smackdown are largely catered to the mainstream, while NXT and 205 Live are catered to the core. The problem is, however, that NXT and 205 Live openly referred to as lower tiered shows than the flagship programs. Enter the new company. You have to aim to get the casuals, but you have to grow and keep your core first. WWE has a 70-year head start on growing a fan base; we’re trying to do this in a matter of years. So, grow the die-hards with the hope of training the casuals to want what the die-hards do. It’s a tough ask, but it’s necessary for the goal in mind.

…and Embrace the Internet

We’re in a different time in the world. The Internet is king. Now, if a company doesn’t have a presence on the Internet or social media, then you’re fighting from behind. Think about how once WWE started their network, how many other companies then were forced to create their own. It’s not even a matter of copycatting; it’s a necessary business move. So, use what’s available to you. The Internet, while massively used, is still largely untapped in this market. Use social media to your advantage. Have live shows for the Internet. Find a way to make your own niche within this market. It will only help.

Have a good mixture of known stars and up and coming wrestlers with potential

If what we’ve talked about so far is the foundation or the bread of the sandwich, this is the meat. The prior 5 points are moot without a fantastic roster. And with this being the most talented and talent rich time in history, it shouldn’t be hard to achieve this. Now, nobody in this section is obviously going to be one of the 5 world wide stars overnight, or ever. That’s fine. This is building a base to grow to that point. This is also a perfect spot for The Elite.

If the rumors are true that they’re considering starting their own company, those 6 men would be the perfect front men for a venture like this. They’re known in the wrestling community, have a tremendous buzz, are massively talented in the ring, and have aspirations on par with the company. I’d also pick some younger, lesser known talent to build up the roster and grow. Off the top of my head, I’m thinking of people like Shane Strickland, Maxwell Joseph Friedman, David Starr, Austin Theory, Joey Janella and Penelope Ford, Jordynne Grace, Shotzi Blackheart, and others similar to them. You want to have the best wrestling roster possible. That matters.

Build or team up with a top-level training center

The WWE Performance Center is revolutionary. What Triple H has done is create a talent recruitment and training department that wrestling has never seen. Now, WWE wrestlers are trained like the top-level athletes they are. To be at their level, this is practically a necessity. Much like college football programs compete with each other through their locker room and football facilities, wrestling organizations will start doing the same. Now, building your own may not been necessary if you can find an existing one and team up with it. That brings me to point number 8…

Make connections with other companies, both in and out of pro wrestling

WWE has the market share on professional wrestling. But they don’t have the market share on sports or entertainment individually. They’ve controlled their own section of the world, but what if we expanded that world? Now, at the beginning, I said that this would be akin to fantasy booking, but I was going to try to keep it realistic. So, if I’m the owner of this company, and I want to move up the timeline of competition to be the number one wrestling organization in the world, you can’t just focus on wrestling. What I would do is create a new multi-sport organization. I’d start the new wrestling company, I’d buy Bellator and make a stake in Mixed Martial Arts, and I’d create a new boxing organization. I’d not just try to take over pro wrestling; I’d takeover combat sports in general. That is a fight Vince is not ready for. Also, I’d buy a smaller wrestling organization as a developmental federation. So now, you have a top-level professional wrestling, mixed martial arts, and boxing organizations. They can all train the same, and even cross promote and compete. This is a juggernaut that is possibly the haymaker that could rock Vince.

Hire at least three (3) needle movers

This point is the one that will get the most publicity. This is where you make your statement to the world that you’re seriously in this for the long haul. Everything we’ve done so far has build the foundation, created the base, and expanded the scope. Now, we need to have the front men to lead the organization. And when I say needle movers, I mean people who are known in the mainstream and will draw interest and viewership instantly.

So, to start off my needle movers, the first guy I’m picking is Chris Jericho. Now, this is a fairly obvious pick seeing as Jericho has become one of the hottest commodities in wrestling. With a top-level rock band, a popular podcast, and an expansive television resume, Jericho is the perfect guy to be the wrestling face of the company. I wouldn’t even have him wrestle. He can be the face of the organization. The host or authority figure, so to speak.

Secondly, I’d hire the MMA fighter Jon Jones. Jones is a wrestling fan and has a checkered past with the UFC. He’s still young enough to be an asset in the wrestling business as a performer, and he still has a lot to give in the MMA realm. I’d sign him to a dual deal, where he’d fight in Bellator and wrestle in our organization.

And my third needle mover will be his natural and arch rival. I would hire Brock Lesnar, with Paul Heyman coming in as my head booker.

I can hear the audible groans now at the mention of Lesnar’s name. Hear me out. The goal is to become a viable wrestling organization in the quickest way possible, and steal some of the market share that WWE has. Brock Lesnar is the biggest name is pro wrestling that currently wrestles. The only two men who are close are John Cena, who is a part-timer now, and Roman Reigns, who is battling leukemia for the second time. Both men bleed WWE.

Lesnar has shown that he’s simply in it for the money. You don’t think that he’d salivate at the thought of a great pay day, being able to wrestle and fight in a top organization as he pleases, and being able to fight the one guy he’s always wanted to fight? On top of that, his advocate (in storyline and real life) is the head booker? It’s almost a perfect deal. Now, with these three men, four if you count Heyman, you have a real idea of what the landscape can possibly be. I truly believe we’ve built something sustainable that can compete.

Be ready to not make a real profit for at least 5 years, possibly 10

Have you ever heard the economic expression, “There’s no thing such as free lunch?” The meaning of that is that everything costs money, even if it’s free. So, with what we’ve built, there’s a cost. We didn’t choose the long game like most companies do. We’re trying to make a difference immediately. Because of this, we’re having to make a ton of moves nobody else has ever attempted to make before. We have a Hollywood director and/or producer running our production, we have a very knowledgeable but highly paid creative team, we’ve bought other organizations, we’re cultivating a top-level training center, and we’ve built a roster with the best we can get, including three of the highest paid competitors on the market. The payment for all of that is not expecting a profit immediately.

The point of any business is to make money, yes. That’s why we have Bellator and the boxing organization. The wrestling company will make money too. But we’ll inevitably be in the red for at least 5 years. And that’s for one singular goal – being a viable alternative to the WWE. We want to compete on their level. And that money is one that comes with billions of dollars in possible revenue. The money is out there in wrestling. We’re trying to get the absolute most possible. So, we have to take a hit in the hopes and goal of breaking though to another level of profit and success down the line.

With these goals, this business plan, and this mindset, you’ll need an owner who has the 3 P’s of business – they’re passionate, proven, and patient. Not a lot of business owners are wiling to follow a business plan such as this, and don’t subscribe the 3 P’s. I’ve come up with one though.

The perfect owners for this venture are The Fertitta Brothers.

The Fertitta Brothers are the guys who, along with Dana White, took the UFC from an organization who couldn’t have shows in more than half of the United States to a global powerhouse. They own and manage Zuffa Inc., and recently they sold the majority of their shares in the UFC to WME. So, I’m choosing them because they’re patient – they watched UFC grow from a small-time organization that was ostracized to the biggest MMA organization ever, they’re proven – they sold their majority shares in UFC for $4.2 billion, and they’re passionate – they’re huge fans of the sport and we’re mainstays in the crowd. They have the perfect mix of capital and know-how to take this venture from a business plan to reality.

Cultivate a sport style to match the organization

I’m a sports entertainment fan, through and through. I don’t care as much about a wrestler’s move set as much as I do about their entertainment factor. I can acknowledge, however, that there is a group of fans that is the opposite. On top of those fans, we’ve built an organization that houses 2 major legitimate sporting companies. So, to match that and to create an alternative to the WWE, we need to cultivate a sport style. What I mean by that is we will have weight classes and defined divisions – heavyweight (225 lbs. to 265 lbs.), cruiserweight (205 lbs. to 225 lbs.), and light heavyweight (205 lbs. and below) for the men and lightweight (135 lbs. to 155 lbs.), bantamweight (115 lbs. to 135 lbs.), and strawweight (115 lbs. and below) for the women. We’ll also have an openweight championship that anybody can compete for, regardless of weight class or gender, and it will be defended with no rules. There will also be a tag team championship, that can also be competed for by anybody.

Part of the reason of buying an MMA and boxing company is the hopes of cross over appeal and competition. So, people like Chael Sonnen and Rampage Jackson who are currently signed to Bellator can fight and possibly wrestle, while somebody like Jake Hager (a.k.a Jack Swagger) can wrestle and possibly fight. This will be helped by the weight classes. It also allows for the company to make each weight class championship on an even playing field. And more than anything, it will set us apart from WWE.

Buy a TV Channel

We’re at the end of this business plan, and this idea is the least likely, but it’s the final ace in the hole. Vince McMahon owns the award-winning WWE Network. It’s excellent in every way, except that it’s a pay service Internet network. If Vince owned a real TV station, he’d be in a different stratosphere. That’s our goal. It’s not a necessity, but if we can buy a television station, we can not only house our own content, but we an also charge what we want in advertising and get rights fees for other content on our channel. Imagine having the premier combat sports organization in the world with the premier combat sports television channel in the world! We can even buy FITE TV and put its content on actual television.

I know this has been a long journey, but competing with Vince McMahon and the WWE takes this long of a business plan. He’s created an empire for a reason. No other person in history has had the mind to mix business and wrestling as well as he has. So, with all of the 12 ideas we’ve come up with here, we bridge that gap instantly. Now, we’re not only on the hook with wrestling. We have a premier organization with numerous companies and prospectively, a television channel. You’re instantly in WCW territory with the possibility of competing directly with Vince for the market share.

Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta? You’re welcome. I’ll be waiting for my consultation fee.

FIN

@itsreycash

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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

3 days 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

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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

4 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.