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Top 5 Matches: Week Ending 3/3/2019

Andrew brings us the Top 5 matches of the week! A week without huge events, should make the list interesting!

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Andrew brings us the Top 5 matches of the week! A week without huge events, should make the list interesting!

The February matches are in the books! So this article will be one of those two voters. So let’s look at the February pool.

  • NXT: Halftime Heat
  • AJPW Triple Crown Championship: Kento Miyahara (c) vs Suwama
  • NXT: Matt Riddle vs Drew Gulak
  • Men’s WWE Championship Elimination Chamber

There we go! A very WWE dominated February pool. With that being said, I’m still voting for Halftime Heat as the match of February. That was a hell of a showcase, great match and was a bright spot in a rather dull Super Bowl. The All Japan match is fantastic though, but Halftime Heat is on a different level.

Now let’s get to this week’s matches!

 

5. SmackDown Live: Kofi Kingston & Kevin Owens vs Rowan & Daniel Bryan

From My Review:
The main event happens, and delivers well. Kofi continues his saga of being the good employee, just like they were getting across with the past 11 years. Hell, even Owens stayed true to the concept of not being a bad guy. He tagged himself in for hot tags, tagged out to Kofi and even after the match seemed to maybe have on of those “If I win you’re first up” kind of conversations. So seeing what Owens does in the coming weeks should be interesting.

Winner: Owens via Stunner

Rating: *** 1/2

 

4. NOAH: Minoru Tanaka & Naomichi Marufuji vs Kaito Kiyomiya & Daisuke Harada

From My Review:
Marufuji and Kiyomiya started off, and the veteran definitely outsmarted the young champion early in the match. He and Tanaka took advantage of 5 counts and toyed with him a little while working over the heavily taped up arm. Once Harada tagged in against Tanaka, they really brought the energy of the match up. Nice counter exchanges, just really great fast paced action. Harada rarely puts on a bad match, Tanaka is also not too shabby, so if this is any precursor to their singles match, it will be special. Kiyomiya and Marufuji end the match, with the champion finally getting in some offense. Marufuji keeps trying to pick him apart, which causes Kiyomiya to use headbutts and a few other interesting striking attempts to keep Marufuji at bay. But the veteran catches the younger wrestler in a Key Lock, that he adjusts a few times and puts his own twist on it, being dubbed The Perfect Key Lock. Really good match setting the scene for both title pictures nicely.

Winner: Marufuji via Perfect Key Lock

Rating: *** 3/4

 

3. 205 Live: Drew Gulak vs Brian Kendrick

From Mitchell’s Coverage:
The bell rings and Gulak circles with Kendrick. They stare down while testing the waters. They reach but back away, then finally tie up. Gulak gets a headlock and takedown, Kendrick counters with headscissors but Gulak pops out. Fans applaud the exchange and the two go again. Gulak goes for an arm but Kendrick cravats. Gulak breaks free and wrenches but Kendrick gets a full nelson. Kendrick holds on as Gulak goes to break free, so Gulak rolls and makes it a cover, ONE! Gulak and Kendrick each facelock each other, and Kendrick steps through. Gulak rolls and breaks free, and fans applaud again. Kendrick glances at the Wrestlemania sign as he approaches Gulak again. They tie up for a test of strength but Gulak uses a leg to bring Kendrick down.

Gulak has a hammerlock then transitions to trap a leg. He goes after arms and twists Kendrick around. Gulak shifts to a cover, ONE, and Kendrick fights Gulak’s hands off to get to a corner. The ref keeps Gulak back as Kendrick returns. Kendrick and Gulak circle again, and Kendrick wrenches. Gulak rolls but Kendrick puts his shoulders to the mat, ONE. Kendrick pushes back down, ONE. Kendrick and Gulak roll and Gulak gets the legs. Gulak makes it a cover, ONE, so Gulak wrenches the foot! Gulak has a standing Heel Hook but Kendrick uses his free leg to get free! Kendrick has Gulak in a headlock but Gulak pulls hair. Gulak powers Kendrick to ropes, but they back off at 4.

Kendrick and Gulak get chippy as they circle again. They tie up and Gulak pushes Kendrick to the ropes. Kendrick gets to a corner but Gulak throws body shots. Kendrick shoves Gulak but runs into a German Suplex! Bridging cover, ONE! Gulak shoots the half, ONE, but he has the arm again. Gulak wrenches the arm and pulls a leg for a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow. Kendrick endures and powers his way up. Fans rally as Gulak turns Kendrick but Kendrick gets the backslide! TWO, and Kendrick tilt-o-whirls for a crucifix! But Gulak blocks and brings Kendrick around for another Heel Hook! Gulak shifts to a modified deathlock and pulls back as far as he can! They roll around and Kendrick gets a ropebreak. Gulak lets go but keeps close. Kendrick tackles Gulak and then CHOPS away! Kendrick runs but into Gulak’s lariat! Cover, TWO!

Gulak SLAPS Kendrick then grinds his knee in as he pulls the arm. He also pulls hair but the ref counts. Gulak focuses on the arm, and then pulls at the fingers. Gulak forces the arm to fold to a keylock. Kendrick stands up but Gulak knees and CHOPS him to a corner. Gulak whips corner to corner but Kendrick goes up and over! Kendrick arm-drags Gulak around, then goes for an armbar! Gulak endures while moving around. Kendrick pulls but Gulak shifts his weight to avoid full extension. Gulak reaches with his legs and brings Kendrick to a leg lock! Gulak goes after the arm again and pulls fingers! He stands on Kendrick’s head then brings Kendrick around to pull hair. Kendrick fights back with body shots and forearms. Gulak turns it around to stomp a mudhole into Kendrick.

Gulak whips corner to corner but Kendrick reverses. Kendrick hits a forearm smash but is denied his bulldog as Gulak shoves him hard! Gulak grimaces as he stalks Kendrick at the ropes. Gulak whips Kendrick and tilt-o-whirls, but Kendrick counters with a cradle! TWO, and the two scrap. They end up at the ropes, and Gulak whips. Kendrick reverses and calf kicks Gulak down! Gulak scrambles to a corner and Kendrick runs in for another forearm. Kendrick back drops Gulak then crawls to a cover, TWO! Gulak just gets up but Kendrick is too tired to be frustrated. Kendrick comes around and brings Gulak up in a headlock. Gulak pulls hair again, then powers out. Gulak runs Kendrick over then does it again.

Things speed up and Kendrick comes back with a headlock. Gulak back suplexes but Kendrick turns it to a crossbody! Cover, TWO, and Gulak blocks the boot to a trap-leg German Suplex! Cover, TWO! Kendrick lives and Gulak grits his teeth. Gulak drags Kendrick up and runs, but into a back elbow! Kendrick kicks and Dragon Suplexes Gulak! Gulak springs up to clobber Kendrick! Both men are down and a standing count begins. Fans build to a rally as Gulak stands at 6. Gulak stomps Kendrick and drags him onto the apron. Gulak grinds his foot into Kendrick’s face but backs off at 4. Kendrick slowly sits up as Gulak stalks him. Kendrick jawbreakers, but Sliced Bread is denied! Gulak goes for the GuLOCK, but Kendrick rolls through to cover! TWO, Kendrick gets Gulak for the Captain’s Hook! Gulak endures a submission now!

Gulak crawls, reaches, but Kendrick rolls him from the ropes! Kendrick pulls back harder, and Gulak starts to fade! Gulak fish hooks and POWERBOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Kendrick survives and now Gulak is too tired to be frustrated. Gulak grits his teeth and glares as he stands up. Kendrick drags himself up on the ropes and eggs Gulak on. Gulak runs into a boot, and then another. Gulak comes back but gets a SUPERKICK! Kendrick grabs Gulak but Gulak escapes Sliced Bread! Kendrick deflects the boot and rolls Gulak up! TWO into a surfboard, into the GuLOCK! Gulak has Kendrick stuck in the dragon sleeper and body scissors! Kendrick reaches blindly, but he’s fading! Gulak wrenches more, and Kendrick is OUT! Gulak wins!

Winner: Gulak via GuLock

Rating: *** 3/4

 

Honorable Mentions:

205 Live: Kalisto vs Tony Nese
Winner: Nese via The Running Kneese
Rating: *** 1/2
NOAH: 5v5 Elimnation Match: Mitsuya Nagai, Cody Hall, Maybach Taniguchi, KAZMA SAKAMOTO & Yuji Hino vs Takashi Sugiura, Kinya Okada, Masao Inoue, Yoshiki Inamura & Akitoshi Saito
Winner: Sugiura via Olympic Slam
Rating: *** 1/2
NXT: Shayna Baszler vs Mia Yim
Winner: Baszler via Kirafuda Clutch
Rating: *** 1/4
SmackDown Live: Ricochet & Aleister Black vs Rusev & Nakamura
Winner: Black via Black Mass
Rating: *** 1/4
NXT UK: NXT UK Tag Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
Winner: GYV via Ticket to Mayhem
Rating: *** 1/4
NOAH: GHC Jr. Tag Team Championship Match: Kotaro Suzuki & Yoshinari Ogawa vs Back Breakers (c)
Winner: Suzuki via Tiger Driver
Rating: *** 1/4
WOW: The Temptress vs Fire
Winner: Temptress via Backbreaker
Rating: *** 1/4
IMPACT: Johnny Impact & Brian Cage vs Moose & Killer Kross
Winner: Kross via Kross Jacket Sleeper
Rating: ***
WOW: Kobra Moon vs Azteca
Winner: Kobra via Fire Thunder Driver
Rating: ***
IMPACT: Tommy Dreamer & Willie Mack vs oVe
Winner: Mack via Frog Splash
Rating: ***

 

2. NOAH: GHC Heavyweight Tag Championship Match: 50 Funky Powers (c) vs Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima

From My Review:
We get a very early glimpse at Katsuhiko’s personality. Yone does his Disco pose with Katsuhiko starts laughing uncontrollably. He tries to throw a kick while laughing and misses high, causing Yone to adjust his afro. So Katsuhiko just tags out to Go, all while still giggling. Go takes most of the big bumps in this match, but it was a damn good match. Both teams looked great, pulled off a few tandem moves each, but Kastuhiko gets the best of Quiet Storm, landing a few kicks to the head and then his Vertical Spike, to become NEW tag champions!

Eddie and Kitamiya come out afterwards to declare that after their matches, they have a respect for one another and want a shot at the tag belts. Nakajima has a lot of story here. Kitamiya is his former Aggression teammate and Eddie was the one that beat him and took the GHC Heavyweight Title in 2017. So if Go and Katsuhiko can defeat this challenge, it might be the storyline wrinkle that Katsuhiko needs to aim towards the main title scene.

Winner: Nakajima via Vertical Spike

Rating: ****

 

1. Stardom: Wonder of Stardom Championship: Momo Watanabe (c) vs Jungle Kyona

Well Momo was looking to break the defense record set by Io Shirai for the Wonder of Stardom title, and she wanted to do it against the woman she started the streak against. So Momo challenged Kyona, just to bring everything full circle. Kyona on the other hand has had a rather disappointing 2019 so far. 2018 ended with J.A.N. losing both the Artist and Goddess of Stardom tag belts and the subsequent rematches. 2019 has shown Kyona as having some of the best matches, but always ending without victory. So both women have something to prove in this match.

Both come out swinging, and you can see a rougher feel to this match. Kyona worked over Momo’s leg and back, where Momo was just landing stiff kicks and suplexes like they were on sale. Selling was great, Momo sold the back damage by not being able to hold the bridge on a Half and Half Suplex Hold. Kyona had a convincing near fall with her Scorpion Deathlock. Not to be outdone, Momo nearly won by submission as well, when she caught the Sliding Lariat in a Crossface Chickenwing, nearly putting Kyona to sleep. The crowd was into the match, the respective stable members seconding around the ring, smacked the mat and did everything they could to raise the morale of their member.

After tripping a little when she popped over the top rope, Kyona missed the big Splash and that gave Momo an opening for offense. A few kicks, a PK and Peach Sunrise while Kyona was trying to fight for the rope, won her the record setting 11th defense!

Winner: Momo via Peach Sunrise

Rating: **** 3/4

 

Thoughts:

Now some people may question why the NOAH matches are on the list when they were done on February 24th. The answer is, the show wasn’t on TV until March 2nd, so if IMPACT and other tape delay shows count, so does NOAH.

Regardless of my explanation for the NOAH matches, the Stardom match got a lot of early buzz, so much so that Stardom-World posted it up immediately. Tremendous match, one of the best women’s matches I’ve ever seen and just damn. Momo is getting a huge push and Kyona is probably being set up for something good later in the year. Either way, great match, won’t get the recognition it really deserves, but still damn great.

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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
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 MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

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


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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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