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Top 5 Matches: Week Ending 1/27/2019

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It’s Royal Rumble Weekend! How many WWE/NXT matches take the Top 5 slots? Andrew gives us the breakdown.

Well it’s been one week since the last article, and just like Birchmount Stadium is still home of the Robbie, we keep the hits coming. Last week, we had another slam dunk runaway vote, SmackDown Live: Andrade vs Rey Mysterio, won with the greatest of ease.

So will we have another slam dunk to round out January, and bring us to our first Monthly vote of 2019…or will this one finally be hard? Let’s find out.

 

5. Royal Rumble: Women’s Royal Rumble

Snippet Mitchell’s Coverage:

28th out is Lana! The Ravishing Russian hurt her ankle at the start of the night because of what happened in the United States Championship match, but she’s going to tough it out. Charlotte fights off Natty and Alexa while Ember rocks Shirai. Lana limps but this match might be over before she arrives. Charlotte CHOPS Natty while Ember hauls Shirai. Referees check on Lana while Natty chops Charlotte back. Alexa goes after Bayley while Shirai holds on as Ember scrapes at her. Shirai manages to get a foot up and kick Ember away. Lana still hasn’t entered the ring and now 29th is on their way out. It’s Nia Jax!

The Irresistible Force also has a lot of luck on her side as she’s second-to-last. And she kicks Lana just for good measure! Nia stomps the bad leg then gives her a shin breaker! Nia leaves Lana behind to go after the women in the ring. Bayley bumps Charlotte on buckles again and again while Ember and Alexa fight in another corner. Nia kicks Natty then Shirai then clobbers Charlotte and headbutts Ember. Bayley hops on but is thrown out. Alexa runs but into a big clothesline! Shirai climbs up and moonsaults, but is caught and tossed! Nia ELIMINATESShirai! Fans boo but Nia just soaks it up.

Natty throws hands on Nia but Nia throws Natty to a corner. Nia runs but misses in the corner, and somehow Natty gets her up! But Nia slips out to throw Natty out and ELIMINATE her! Bayley tries again but it’s just her alone, Nia knocks her away. And finally, Carmella appears as Ms. 30! The FABULOUS Princess makes her way out while Nia and Ember fight. Carmella runs, dodges and manages to headscissor Nia! She kicks Nia again, but Ember whips. Carmella dropkicks Ember but gets run over by Nia! Nia has her pick and goes after Alexa.

But wait, since Lana never got to be Ms. 28, Becky Lynch comes out! Becky wants a spot, but Fit Finlay says she can’t. Becky says this was a 30 Woman Rumble, right? So she’ll be the new 28th! Finlay allows it, here comes The Man!! Nia can’t believe it, but the fans are loving this! Becky stares down the #Facebreaker and starts throwing hands!

Charlotte goes after Becky and throws her, but Becky stays in. Becky hits Charlotte away and now they brawl! Nia throws Becky but Becky survives again. Charlotte grabs Nia but gets elbowed away. Nia runs into Becky’s kick, then Becky climbs up. Nia hits Charlotte with a Samoan Drop but Becky hits Nia with a missile dropkick! Alexa rocks Ember with the right, but Ember hits her back with a strike fest! Alexa kicks then runs but into a flapjack! Ember drags Alexa up and throws her over. Alexa holds on and drags Ember over with her hair! Carmella goes after Charlotte while the goddesses brawl. Alexa has a guillotine on Ember but Ember holds on for dear life.

Ember and Alexa brawl more, Ember hits Alexa with a right. Alexa hits back, choke grip and a boot, but Ember still holds on. Becky and Bayley brawl in the background as Alexa STO’s and ELIMINATES Ember! Alexa mocks Ember before going after Carmella. Carmella feeds Alexa a boot then a fabulous mudhole. Carmella moonwalks to bronco buster! She drags Alexa up but Alexa gets her with the choke grip! Carmella SLAPS Alexa, then ducks. They each dodge a hit, but the FABULOUS Kick rocks Alexa. Bayley lifts Alexa, buckle bomb! Bayley has history with Alexa to settle and she scoops. Carmella helps Bayley to ELIMINATE Alexa! But then Nia runs them both over!

Becky goes after Nia again, but Nia wants to use that Face Breaker. But Charlotte boots Nia! Carmella adds a FABULOUS Kick, and then Bayley climbs for a Macho Elbow! Carmella gives Becky a complete shot while Charlotte throws Nia with an exploder. Charlotte scoops Carmella but Carmella slips out to throw her down by her hair. Carmella climbs up top and leaps onto Charlotte! But Charlotte rolls through for a backbreaker! Charlotte climbs up now, but Carmella goes after her. Charlotte kicks her away but Carmella comes back with a right hand. Carmella handsprings, but Charlotte blocks the steiner! Charlotte drags Carmella up and tosses her over, but Carmella kicks Charlotte back. Carmella is safe as she mocks the “WOO~”, but Charlotte still throws her over.

Nia is out there so Carmella FABULOUS kicks her. Charlotte boots and ELIMINATES Carmella! But Bayley goes after Charlotte! Charlotte shoulders back, slingshot roll up, but Bayley rolls through to knee Charlotte! Bayley throws forearms and whips Charlotte, but Charlotte reverses, Bayuley uses that to dropkick Nia! Bayley gives Charlotte a neckbreaker! Nia scoops Bayley but Bayley fights back. Charlotte boots Nia but ELIMINATES Bayley!

The final three are Charlotte, Becky and Nia! Fans give a standing ovation but are strongly behind Becky. The three circle, but Charlotte goes after Becky! Nia gets them both with a corner splash! Nia focuses on Charlotte but Charlotte tells her to stay out of her fight. Charlotte boots but Nia headbutts. Nia scoops Charlotte but Charlotte holds ropes. Charlotte fights back and boots Nia again. Nia staggers but Charlotte boots her more. Charlotte tries to fireman carry Nia, but can’t keep her as she has to dump Nia down. Both Charlotte and Nia slowly stir while Becky is safe on the floor. Charlotte tries again and gets Nia up. She puts Nia on the apron but Nia headbutts Charlotte. Becky yanks Nia off to ELIMINATE her! The final two are the Queen and the Man!

Charlotte allows Becky to return, but then Nia blasts Becky down! Becky’s still in the match but she clutches her leg now. Charlotte grins, because this makes it that much easier for her. Becky forces herself to stand and fans cheer her on. Charlotte almost laughs, because this match might as well be hers. Phoenix still rallies for Becky as she hobbles and rushes in. Becky doesn’t care about the bad leg, she insists she can go. She dares Charlotte to bring the fight, and Charlotte grimaces. Charlotte goes right at the leg! She drives knees into Becky’s knees over and over! And then twists it with a toehold! Becky fights with her other leg but Charlotte kicks the bad one and sends Becky rolling. Charlotte scoops Becky into a Tree of Woe to kick the knee more.

Becky hobbles up but Charlotte goes to throw her out. The two fight, Becky enziguris! Charlotte wobbles, Becky throws her! Charlotte stays on the apron but Becky throws hands! Becky almost has Charlotte but Charlotte kicks out the bad leg! Charlotte throws Becky with an exploder! Becky manages to stand but Charlotte runs in, only for Becky to dump her back out! Clothesline ELIMINATES Charlotte!! Becky wins!!

Winner: Becky Lynch

Rating: ****

 

4.  SmackDown Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs Becky Lynch

From Mitchell’s Coverage:
Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and fans are thunderous as we begin! Becky and Asuka stare down before circling. They tie up and go around the rings. Asuka shoves Becky away and the two go again. Fans duel as Becky gets a headlock. Asuka fights out but Becky bumps shoulders. Auska comes back with a dropkick and Becky’s reeling! Becky steadies herself as Asuka talks trash in Japanese. Becky shoves Asuka but dodges a back hand! She rocks Asuka with a right then trash talks in English. Becky runs but Asuka follows. Asuka’s dropkick misses but Becky knocks her down. Becky dares Asuka to fight her! Asuka swings but Becky gets the arm. Asuka rolls and Becky throws European Uppercuts. Becky tries again but Asuka blocks and counters with kicks. Asuka trips Becky to kick her down. Cover, TWO!

Asuka toys with Becky but both women grin. Even as Asuka kicks Becky in the mouth! Becky gets mad now, and grabs that leg to throw forearms! Becky mule kicks then runs, but Asuka follows. They speed up and Becky hits Asuka down with forearms! Fans fire up while Asuka bails out of the ring. Becky dares her to return, but Asuka takes her time. Becky decides to slide out but Asuka slides in. Asuka hip attacks Becky down! Becky rolls around the corner but Asuka goes to the apron. Asuka kicks but Becky dodges. Becky’s up and boots Asuka off the apron! Becky fetches Asuka up and into the apron, and bumps her off. The ref counts but Becky refreshes at 5. Asuka drags Becky back out to throw forearms of her own! Asuka bumps Becky off the apron, then kicks her around.

The ref counts again but Asuka throws Becky into the LED apron board! Asuka refreshes the count at 6, but it’s Becky who throws her with a becksploder! Both women are down and the count rises again. Becky drags up and in at 7, covers, TWO! Becky keeps her cool while fans continue to duel. She drags Asuka up and into a corner to stomp a mudhole! Fans like the fire even as Becky backs off at 4. Becky drags Asuka up to club her down. She bumps Asuka in a corner then snap suplexes her out. Cover, TWO! Becky keeps on Asuka with an armbar, but Asuka endures. Fans rally up as Becky wrenches back hard. Asuka stands but Becky wrangles her back down. Becky wants her signature but Asuka slips out. Asuka fights Becky off with fast feet, then blocks a kick to give a kick!

Asuka runs but Becky dodges the hip attack! Becky fires off EuroUppers against the ropes! The ref backs Becky off, but Asuka comes back with an ASUKA LOCK in the ropes!! Asuka lets go at 4 but fans are dueling again. Asuka runs in at Becky, but hits the post! Becky hops up to get around, for a DISARM-HER in the ropes! Becky lets go at 4 but the damage is done. Asuka is down, Becky takes aim, leaping ax handle into Asuka’s knee strike! Both women are down but stirring. Fans cheer as the two start brawling. Becky hits but Asuka fires up. Becky whips but Asuka goes up and hits back with a dropkick! Asuka runs in at Becky for a BIG hip attack! Asuka wants a German but Becky elbows. But Asuka hits a back hand, and the German Suplex! Asuka runs, another hip attack! Cover, TWO!!

Asuka keeps her focus while fans rally up. Becky stands while Asuka climbs. Asuka aims and leaps, but Becky dodges the dropkick! Becky pumphandles for a body slam! Cover, TWO!! Asuka escapes and Becky is shocked! Becky goes after Asuka but gets caught to an armbar! She makes it a cover, TWO and ASUKA LOCK returns! Asuka and Becky roll, ropebreak! Becky and Asuka end up on the apron, and Asuka headbutts. Becky forearms and now they brawl again! Asuka blocks a kick to fire off on Becky’s back! Asuka wants a German but Becky holds on for deal life! Becky elbows free of Asuka, and wants another Becksploder! Now Asuka holds on for dear life, and turns things into a Fisherman Neckbreaker to the floor! Both women crash and burn but are somehow okay to continue.

Asuka returns at the count of 7, but Becky’s in at 9! Only for Asuka to hit the sliding kick! Cover, TWO!? Becky survives and Asuka can’t believe it. Asuka grits her teeth as she and Becky go back to each other. Fans duel as the two start brawling again. Becky and Asuka throw big palm strikes, and start hitting harder as they stand. Asuka hits from both sides! Becky blocks the backhand and wants the arm! Asuka whips but Becky reverses, only for Asuka to come back with a heel kick! Cover, TWO! Both women go back to each other, but Asuka gets the facelock. Becky slips out and gets to a corner. Becky dodges Asuka to then jump kick her! She throws forearms and climbs up to join Asuka, but Asuka hits back.

Asuka adjusts but Becky comes back for more. Becky grabs Asuka, SUPER BECKSPLODER! Cover, TWO!! Asuka lives and Becky is again in shock. Becky drags Asuka to a drop zone as fans declare “This is Awesome!” Becky climbs up but Asuka dodges the leg drop! ASUKA LOCK AGAIN!! Becky flails and reaches but Asuka STEALS the Disarm-her! Becky rolls and STEALS the Asuka Lock! Asuka endures her own hold and rolls around, to make it a cover! TWO, roundhouse! Asuka drags Becky up but Becky drags Asuka down! She gets the DISARM-HER!! Asuka crawls, claws, but Becky drags her away. Asuka rolls to a cover, TWO! Becky rolls Asuka, TWO! Takedown into the Asuka Lock! Becky resists but Asuka has her! They roll but Asuka makes it Cattle Mutilation! Becky taps, Asuka wins!!

Winner: Asuka via Bridging Inverted Guillotine

Rating: ****

 

3. NXT Takeover Phoenix: NXT Championship: Aleister Black vs Tommaso Ciampa (c)

From My Review:
This was a damn good match. Ciampa worked over the plant leg heavily to try and take away the Black Mass. Seth Rollins could learn some things from Aleister Black, since he actually sold a busted up leg well and for the entire match. Two nice wrinkles I picked up were Mauro’s commentary about Tommaso calling himself Tommy Sports Entertainment, and asking if Aleister will end…Tommy, yes Tommy End, we get it. The second wrinkle was hearing Nigel call his own move when Ciampa hit a Rope Hung Cutter onto the apron, but Nigel called it Tower of London. Also, Ciampa had a beautiful transition from a roll up, into a Draping DDT and then a Fairy Tale Ending, but that wasn’t the finish. So what hurt this match to me were two things, another ‘exposing the concrete’ spot shortly after Gargano did the same thing and too damn many false finishes. When Black hit Black Mass, it made sense for Ciampa to be able to roll to his side, since it took time for Black to crawl over to Ciampa. But 4 Fairy Tale Endings? Really? And the fourth one coming after Aleister almost pulled off a miracle Black Mass, but his leg gave out and it just looked awkward. The finish to this match really took it down a peg, but it’s still damn good.

Winner: Ciampa via Fairy Tale Ending

Rating: **** 1/4

 

Honorable Mentions:

WWE SmackDown Live: 2 out of 3 Falls: Rey Mysterio vs Andrade Almas
Rating: *** 3/4
Royal Rumble: WWE Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs Finn Balor
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW Fantastica Mania: Volador Jr vs Caristico
Rating: *** 1/2
ROH TV 383: NO DQ Match Beer City Bruiser vs Silas Young
Rating: *** 1/2
Impact: Rich Swann vs Hijo del Vikingo
Rating: *** 1/2
Royal Rumble: Raw Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks vs Ronda Rousey (c)
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW Fantastica Mania: Ginbae Mask & Gokiburi Mask vs Dragon George & Sweet Gorilla Maruyama
Rating: *** 1/2
Royal Rumble: Cruiserweight Championship 4-Way: Hideo Itami vs Buddy Murphy vs Kalisto vs Akira Tozawa
Rating: *** 1/4
Royal Rumble: SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Bar (c) vs Shane McMahon & The Miz
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: Bayley & Sasha Banks vs Natalya & Ronda Rousey
Rating: ***
WWE SmackDown Live: Miz w/Shane vs Cesaro w/Sheamus
Rating: ***
Royal Rumble: WWE Championship: AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan (c)
Rating: ***
Impact: Dez & Wentz vs Desi Hit Squad
Rating: ***
WWE Raw: Raw Tag Team Titles: Bobby Roode & Chad Gable vs The Revival
Rating: ***
Royal Rumble: Men’s Royal Rumble
Rating: ***

 

2. NXT Takeover Phoenix: NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano vs Ricochet (c)

From My Review:

Well now, great match. A few awkward moments here and there, but all in all, both Gargano and Ricochet put on a hell of a show. Ricochet’s movie stunt Wall Run Backflip off the post onto Gargano was impressive. The way he just shrugged off distance or difficulty of jumping over the turnbuckles and post to dive onto Gargano, just all great. Gargano exposes the cement as a callback to his Ciampa feud, but doesn’t go through with it right away. Then, he’s pushed to the brink, shoved Ricochet into the post whilst on the apron, as a callback to his match against Andrade, and eventually hits a Brainbuster on the exposed floor. Impressive match, but one big takeaway is that Ricochet really needs to tone down the excessive flips, especially since that’s mostly why he lost and when he got caught by Johnny, plus the misses felt obvious, so they didn’t add anything to the match.

Winner: Gargano via Slingshot DDT

Rating: **** 1/2

 

1. NXT Takeover Phoenix: NXT Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Era (c) vs War Raiders

From My Review:
War Raiders come out with Viking war horns, dark lightning and soldiers as the crowd starts to bustle before eventually appearing and going into their normal theme. With such a big entrance, I’m not surprised they won, hell I picked them in the staff picks. But this match was tremendous. Era started off quick and basically had this match feeling like a Tornado/Lucha match with the amount of times all four men were involved in the action. Hansen kicked out of the High/Low tandem finish, Raiders pulled out most of their moves though. Thor’s Hammer, Rowe’s Powerbomb/Bodyslam combo, Hansen’s Back Handspring Double Elbow, just a lot of good stuff. The matched flowed well, Raiders showed resiliency and Undisputed Era stuck to the gameplan of trying to just use speed and double team maneuvers to get an upper-hand. Just damn damn good.

Winner: War Raiders via Fallout

Rating: **** 3/4

 

Thoughts:

Well given that Royal Rumble basically turned into another chapter of Becky Lynch’s ascent to being the best character in WWE, I can’t purely judge things off of “best match”. Yes I stand by my ranking, and I loved the War Raiders/Undisputed Era match, but my vote is going to, SmackDown Women’s Championsho: Asuka (c) vs Becky Lynch.

Asuka has proven to be able to put on great matches when given time, be it in NXT with Ember Moon, Bayley, Nikki Cross, etc. On top of her Mania match last year with Charlotte. So not only for this being an impressive match technically, Asuka looked great, Becky wasn’t hurt much by the loss since she bounced back in fabulous fashion. Rumble was great, and I’ll have a review up later tomorrow, since it’s late in the AM after the show and I need sleep since I was out with people watching the show.

Anyway, we really got some great stuff to pick from this week, Use Your Head, and let me sleep.

 

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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.

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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

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 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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About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

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

Classic POD is WAR


Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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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

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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.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

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

Classic POD is WAR


Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand


Powered by RedCircle


Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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