Opinion

The Good, Bad and Ugly: WWE Crown Jewel Post Show

Published

7 years ago

November 3, 2018

Here we go, highly anticipated by all the WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia. I won’t waste any time, as I’m sure you have already opened and drank your entire bottle of hateraid. Let’s Begin!

THE GOOD

Well you know something Hulkamaniacs, Hulk Hogan being a part of WWE is all GOOD! I loved seeing the Red and Yellow back and the fans greeted him correctly! Not the first time we got fireworks for Hogan, and from what I saw, this will not be the last. Welcome Back Hulk Hogan!

Equally important in this section is Renee Young, sitting ringside and providing commentary in a very much overlooked aspect of this show that represents one small bit of change that WWE was able to accomplish in its second trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They accomplished something with this!

United States Championship – Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Rusev: I notoriously hate the Pre-Show Matches, thinking they are a sad waste of talent. Well this time the talent outweighed the situation. This was a hot match with two of the very best WWE has to offer. They delivered on all levels and showed their worth and waste. I want a lot more Rusev and Nakamura, in fact as much as the WWE can give us. This was back and forth highlighting the skill set of both. It looked like Rusev had it closed up and was leaving with the belt, but then low blow, and a knee to the face, Nakamura Retains the US Title.
World Cup Round 1 – Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton: With talent at this level, I mean straight legends, I have extremely high expectations for this match. I really enjoyed the vignettes prior to the matches, it was different and very old school. Nice touch. The Randy Orton dropkick was textbook, and I’m happy the announce team sold it correctly! The 619 into the DDT off the 2^nd rope looked great. Classic heel vs Babyface, Rey Mysterio and Orton did a great job in their roles and looked comfortable in their elements. Good Match, Rey Mysterio Wins! However Orton beat the hell out of Rey Mysterio post-match. I hope Randy Orton stays this crazy, it suits him well.
World Cup Round 1 – Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz: Okay, I don’t dislike Wrestler Face paint, and I am certainly Pro Hardy Boyz, but do I hate Jeff Hardy’s face paint. Next point, The Miz doesn’t get enough love, hence why I picked him to win the whole thing. His achievements are outstanding. Another classic, textbook old school match. Like the previous match, everything was tight, and clear. The guys could do this type of match in their sleep. I’m not saying that the crowd was great, but they definitely reacted when things got interesting, especially the way Jeff Hardy does things. They are veterans. Nothing that I found standout but still Good work. Miz reverses the Twist of Fate with a Skull Crushing Finale for the victory and moves on to face Rey Mysterio in Round 2 of the World Cup Tournament.
World Cup Round 1 – Kurt Angle vs. Dolph Ziggler: What we have here is a True Wrestling Match, reflecting both of the competitor’s decorated mat wrestling backgrounds. Pittsburgh vs Cleveland, both guys sharp, and comfortable playing off each other’s move. This match was very physical, and gave us a lot of “Wrestling” in its purest form. Even something as simple as a sleeper spot looks good and was done well. Very slow and careful pace but still a Good Match! Dolph Zigger hit the Zig Zag for the win to face Seth Rollins in the Semi-Finals.
WWE Championship – AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe: This felt like a real Championship level match. The Crowd was excited, the posture and presence of both Joe and AJ we felt. Working a body part, this was also a textbook match. However at a different level than the others. The match had a great flow, and worked well. Very physical and active. Samoa Joe’s suicide dive was sick! It really looked stiff and made impact. It finally was like the show opened up! The submissions and counters were great, and as a whole, this was a Good title match. AJ Styles retains the Title! I cannot wait to see what is next, but I bet it will be “Awesome.”

THE BAD

DX vs. The Brothers of Destruction: I love DX’s energy however HBK was very awkward and almost comical especially about his hair or lack of it. Both Kane and the Undertaker’s Entrance was just mesmerizing. It is always a treat to see the Undertaker and the pageantry that comes with it. The Legend, the Phenom coming through the darkness to retrieve yet another soul. It will never get old to me even if The Undertaker does. Legends, with epic stories, accomplishments and history repping WWE to the fullest. The crowd was beside themselves cheering back and forth as both groups are loved by the masses. We got all we were looking for, but then things got Ugly. Michael collapsed, although I’m not sure why, then a very rare botch with HHH and the Undertaker made for some real awkwardness. The crowd didn’t even blink and stayed into it for the most part. I don’t feel like it ever recovered. It could be the age or something bigger but the air was let out and it just kind of went through the motions. Then HBK gave himself a facelift landing directly on his face from a moonsault to the outside that went wrong. Sweet Chin Music and a Pedigree to Kane, DX Wins!
World Cup Round 1 – Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush: I cannot stand listening to Lio Rush, but I guess that is the point. Luckily he was toned down a bit today. Lio Rush does wrestle well though from what I have seen. Seth Rollins is consistent and although injuries have occurred to both him and his opponents, he has had great matches. Bobby Lashley is a Monster! He might not be perfect, but a great athlete and Professional Wrestler. The trend of the night so far continued. However this one was a little too plain for me. Bad is a little harsh for the work put in but it certainly wasn’t good. Rollins wins with the Curb Stomp. Onto the Semi-Finals against the Winner of Angle vs. Ziggler. (R1 Winner: Ziggler)
World Cup Semifinal – Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz: I will spare you again from hearing that this was another safe play match, but very physical as well. Another somewhat slow paced match. They played off of Rey Mysterio’s pain from getting beaten by Randy Orton earlier in the night. There were a few good moments in the match but overall I wasn’t pulled in. Kind of bad because the two involved are tremendous at what they do. Miz wins off of a double knee counter to a weak frog splash. Miz moves on to the Finals. *Rey Mysterio is amazing, and I am very happy as a fan to have him back home in the WWE, I cannot wait for his next move.
World Cup Semifinal – Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler: Continuing their rivalry, these two guys know each other very well. This match was as safe as a car seat. I wonder if the booking team told them to tone it down a bit, play the injuries, and go slower. The action was okay, just again, very plain. No surprises, nothing that we haven’t seen a million times. Luckily the fans have those plush chairs. Then some high-spots, Superplex into a Falcon Arrow broken up into a Zig Zag. Ziggler wins in true Heel fashion with outside interference by Drew McIntyre. The Show Off heads to the Final’s vs The Miz.

THE UGLY

SmackDown Tag Team Championship – The Bar (c) vs. New Day: New Day’s Entrance took forever. Corey Graves was on point with his pure hate of the Magic Carpet ride. When The Bar and Big Show come down the aisle it is like the Power Rangers becoming Megazord. I would say like most of the matches, the talent was meticulously paired together, and New Day and The Bar have worked each other many times, and have had great, entertaining matches. The crowd seemed to enjoy the match. The Bar’s Back Body Drop into a jackhammer was fantastic. I hope WWE has some big plans for Big E, he brings a great energy and power to the ring. The Double Stomp to the Back spot with New Day was just weird. But then even worse, The Knock Out Punch by the Big Show was weak. Cheap ending, The Bar holds on to their Gold.
Universal Championship – Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman: Beast vs Monster for the most coveted prize in the industry. F5, then F5, then F5. What else can you do? This was crap, and the wrong guy is Champion again. We see John Cena who is invisible more than we see Brock Lesnar. Gross, ugly, and a shame.
World Cup Finals – The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler/Shane McMahon vs. Dolph Zigger: Heel vs. Heel, and a ton of history, I hoped it would be Good! Then Pop! Miz is out due to injury and cannot compete. So, in comes Shame O’ Mac, The Prince of WWE! What? Drew McIntyre gone, Baron Corbin gone, now we have a match, or so I thought, this was just nuts, made no sense and was ugly. Shane McMahon wins the Best in the World Cup 2018, I guess. This is going to be interesting in the coming weeks.

This show was a mixed bag. Overall, I would say Crown Jewel wasn’t as Good as it needed to be. Luckily the WWE fans are loyal even when they “hate” the product they watched. I enjoy the show for what it is, but this historic night, would be better left forgotten. Please share and comment, see you on the next one!

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

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

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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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

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Classic POD is WAR

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1