Opinion
WWE Week in Review: March 18-24, 2019
Creeping closer to WrestleMania, coupled with the finish of the Cruiserweight Tournament and a Fatal 5 Way after Ciampa’s injury. So much going on in WWE. How did Tiffany assess it all?

Creeping closer to WrestleMania, coupled with the finish of the Cruiserweight Tournament and a Fatal 5 Way after Ciampa’s injury. So much going on in WWE. How did Tiffany assess it all?
RAW
Here, in lovely Indiana where I hang my hat, we have a mini-season during the late winter/early spring called ‘Pothole/Chuckhole Season’. It’s where even the best kept road can suddenly turn into a minefield and every driver finds themselves trying to decide which hole in the ground is least likely to completely wreck their tires.
The road to WrestleMania is a well-kept one, but even it has its share of potholes and RAW hit one in a big way this week, but it’s a little too soon to declare that the wheels are off.
Opening: The start of RAW, even if it was Lesnar and Heyman, was reasonably promising. Heyman’s schtick is so repetitive I could say it in my sleep, but McIntyre’s appearance was new, as was the brutal beatdown that Rollins gave McIntyre with the chair. Best part was Lesnar’s reaction, he may have underestimated Rollins, but I don’t think he was after that.
Finn Balor and Braun Strowman vs Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush: I was extremely ‘meh’ about the whole Balor/Strowman vs Lashley/Rush match. These ‘surprise’ partner things are rarely a surprise and Strowman doesn’t have much going on right now anyway. The one interesting thing about this match, other than watching Lio Rush get the snot beat out of him, was the fact that Lashley left Rush to his fate. Given that Lashley and Rush have been having issues with each other lately, I’m sure Rush isn’t going to be impressed with Lashley’s abandonment.
Moment of Bliss: For once, Moment of Bliss wasn’t an absolute, cringe-inducing, ‘OMG, make it stop!’ segment it usually is, but it’s clear that WWE is doing everything it can to cram every single superstar on the roster on the Mania card SOMEHOW, like booking Elias as the musical guest instead of someone like Flo Rida, or Kid Rock. I’m calling it now: The REAL headliner will interrupt Elias.
The thing that bugs me most about Elias’ ‘announcement’ is that Elias isn’t that big of a deal. He had some momentum after Dean Ambrose turned heel, but that didn’t last. If you want further proof, look who he was up against: No Way Jose, who hasn’t even been on Main Event for months. Not exactly a wow-inducing act.
Speaking of Jose: What in the world is going on with Heavy Machinery? They went from destroying the tag division to leading a conga line. Did I miss something here?
Kurt Angle Retirement Announcement: For once, I’m in the majority who are PRAYING that the Kurt Angle/Baron Corbin match at WrestleMania is a joke. Maybe not a good joke, but a joke nonetheless. After all Angle has done and accomplished, his final match is going to be up against Baron Corbin? I’m guessing that Vince is going to troll us at WrestleMania and Kurt’s opponent will either be John Cena, or Vince is going to break out the oilcan and the Ensure and get the Undertaker to do the honors. Either would be preferable to Corbin.
I did love the Angle/Gable match. It’s clear that WWE wants to send Kurt out as the hero he is and it’s also clear that the guys he’s fighting are honored to get in the ring with him, which makes this even better.
I LOVED the Revival and Apollo Crews ignoring and mocking Corbin and hope it’s a sign that Corbin is NOT Angle’s final match.
Divas of Doom Reunion: I’ve said before that I was getting frustrated with the fact that Sasha and Bayley hadn’t really defended the Women’s Tag Team Titles anywhere but on RAW, despite the fact that the selling point of only having one set of Tag Titles was that they were going to be defended on all of WWE’s shows. I’m glad that they’re FINALLY going to be going to SmackDown and having a match with the IIconics, who should’ve been first in line for the titles after Elimination Chamber.
I’m still hoping that Trish and Lita will get a shot at the tag titles, but I’m so happy that Beth Phoenix and the Divas of Doom are back and looking better than ever, I’ll shelve that other match hope for later. I’m not impressed by the inclusion of the Samoan Dynasty, but since they’re the only other ACTUAL Women’s Tag Team on RAW, I guess there’s no way around it.
I really hope Phoenix gets a match before WrestleMania just to re-acclimate herself to the ring again, but I loved watching Sasha vs Nattie, even if the Samoan Dynasty ruined a great match just because.
I don’t know what’s up with Mojo Rawley and I don’t care.
Ricochet vs Jinder Mahal: Since Aleister Black is in Amsterdam on his honeymoon, Ricochet was left to try and get something out of Jinder Mahal, with Singh Brothers in tow. Ricochet did a pretty good job of that and still got the win and showed he can stand on his own without Black.
Warrior Award: I know a lot of people were disappointed that Roman Reigns didn’t win the Warrior Award, but since the Warrior’s initial idea was to honor unsung heroes in the company, Sue Aichinson getting the award makes sense.
Seth Rollins: I love that Seth said that his match against McIntyre was for Reigns and Ambrose, who were not there this week. Seth seemed to have realized that his brutal beatdown of McIntyre had made an impression on Lesnar, which he desperately needs.
Ronda Rousey vs Dana Brooke: I HATED the Rousey/Brooke Match! For all the build, Dana should’ve been given more of a shot than what she got. I get that it’s to build Rousey as a nasty badass going into WrestleMania, but it sucks that Dana was basically sacrificed to do it.
Apollo Crews: I really enjoyed Crews vs Corbin and hope it means that Corbin will NOT be Angle’s final opponent. Plus, it give Crews some much needed momentum, which he’s been missing since the end of Titus Worldwide.
Batista Interview: I have no idea no idea why Batista is mad at Triple H and his interview on Monday didn’t make the situation clearer. Considering how many title reigns Batista had during his first run in WWE, he can hardly say Triple H held him back or down or whatever. Batista came across as a spoiled brat that made you want to see Triple H beat the shit out of him just so he’ll shut up.
Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre: I loved Rollins/McIntyre, especially because Rollins proved that he could hang with big men on his own, something that a lot of people were doubting after the Royal Rumble. I wasn’t impressed with Lesnar being petty and costing Seth the match since it still looks like he’s not taking Rollins as seriously as he probably should.
SmackDown
The Road to WrestleMania has been a lot less clear for SmackDown on many fronts and the path didn’t seem any clearer as the Blue brand went off the air.
Opening: Miz kicked off the show, and cut a great promo. Miz usually isn’t good in the babyface role, but he hit it out of the park on Tuesday, even if saying he had to earn his dad’s love sounds like something he should be talking about with a therapist.
Boss-Hug vs IIconics: I’m so happy that Sasha and Bayley FINALLY made it to SmackDown and faced the IIconics in such a great match, that I can’t be mad at HOW the IIconics got the win on Tuesday or that Lacey Evans showed up again. It looks like the IIconics are going to WrestleMania!
Rey Mysterio: Rey Mysterio’s promo and the announcement that he’s facing Samoa Joe for the United States Championship was great, but the reveal of his son, Dominic, which most WWE fans of the early 2000s remember as a little boy caught in a custody battle between Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, was enough to make anyone feel REALLY old.
The Kevin Owens Show: The brawl between Charlotte and Becky was really good and helped heat up the RAW Women’s feud, which has cooled off just a little since Fastlane. Owens played the pot-stirring host very well, while still managing to stay a babyface, which is not natural for him. This RAW Women’s Championship match is going to be WILD.
AJ Styles: I’m still not on board with the Styles/Orton match. It just feels too forced and petty. If anyone should have the advantage in this, it’s Styles, who has wrestled all over the world with some of the best the world had to offer, while Orton has only wrestled in WWE.
Daniel Bryan: I get that Daniel Bryan is a heel, but him calling Kofi Kingston a B+ player is eye-roll inducing. It’s not like Bryan has been setting the world on fire lately.
Gauntlet Match: I think we all knew Vince was going to pull something to keep Kofi from winning the gauntlet match, but the bigger story is the conversation this storyline and the real-life incident involving Jimmy Uso and Naomi with a police officer, over the treatment of People of Color in everyday life interactions with white people. I’m not going to judge Vince McMahon, the human being, by the actions of Mr. McMahon, the character, but the conversation Mr. McMahon’s treatment of Kofi Kingston is more interesting than the wrestling storyline, in my opinion, and it’s a conversation that we need to be having.
I also found it very interesting how the babyface SmackDown locker room seems to have banded together behind Kingston, wanting him to get his shot and makes for an interesting question about what happens next week.
205 Live
Mike Kanellis vs Akira Tozawa: My hopes that Mike Kanellis is going to be a super over underdog babyface seemed to have been dashed on Tuesday since he and Maria put away Akira Tozawa in that fantastic opener for 205, but I’m still thrilled that Kanellis seems to be getting a push.
Cedric Alexander: I really enjoyed this interview. Alexander really needled Nese and Murphy, raising questions about what would happen if Nese won the #1 Contender match. Love Nese’s assertion that he’s not a sidekick despite being Murphy’s lackey for the past several months.
Lucha House Party: I like Lucha House Party, but news of their return has me pretty ‘meh’, though them going against Gulak, Gallagher, Carrillo sounds interesting.
Tony Nese vs Cedric Alexander: I LOVED this match! I wasn’t sure it was going to live up to the hype, but Nese and Alexander really tore it up. I was surprised that Nese won, but I’m very happy since Nese would be a breath of fresh air to the title picture. Murphy turning on Nese was definitely NOT a surprise, but it ends the question of what will happen if the Body Guys have to face each other for the title: It’s going to be a fight at WrestleMania.
NXT UK:
Pete Dunne: Well, it seems WWE is finally going to get Pete Dunne vs WALTER out of the way, thank god. I’ve been over this build for awhile and I’m glad that we’re finally getting it.
Women’s Division: I like Toni Storm, but I haven’t warmed up to her as much I would like to. There’s just something about her in the ring that I don’t get, she always acts like she has no idea what’s going on. However, I loved her promo on Jinny and am happy that they’re probably going to have this feud going into WrestleMania.
Rhea Ripley’s reaction to Xia Brookeside is hilarious when you remember that Brookeside came VERY close to beating Ripley a few times, so this match will be interesting to watch.
Eddie Dennis vs Ligero: The Headmaster from Hell is back and he vented his rage on poor Ligero in a hellacious match that I’m not sure Ligero was quite ready for. Any hope that the time away would help Dennis’ attitude seem to have been dashed because he beat the Leeds Luchador from pillar to post, though Ligero put up quite a fight. I pity whoever gets in Dennis’ way now.
Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams: I’m totally stoked to see the Lucky Bad Boys talking about going for the tag titles, even if Jordan is more enthusiastic about the idea than Williams.
The Hunt vs Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley: There’s not a whole lot to say about this match except that the Primate and the Wild Boar are going to be trouble for whomever gets in their way, as poor Stoker and Howley found out. Ouch.
Kassius Ohno vs Ashton Smith: Kassius Ohno has only been in the UK a week and he’s already having more success than he had in NXT US. The match against Ashton Smith was extremely good and let Ohno show off his skills. I don’t blame Smith for being skeptical of Ohno’s ‘respect’, but I don’t think Ohno KOing him was the way to show his goodwill.
Gallus: I like seeing Gallus figuring out why they’re having not great luck lately rather than singling someone out for blame or blaming their opponents. I’m interested in seeing how Gallus gets back on top, which I’m sure they’re going to do.
Tyler Bate vs James Drake: This was a really good match to try and get Mustache Mountain back in the tag title picture. Both guys are CRAZY talented and it was nice to see them one on one without their partners and since Bate got the win, Mustache Mountain are still in the title picture, so everyone wins.
NXT
Opening: Ever since it was announced that Ciampa was going to be out because of a neck injury, I’d been wondering how they were going to write him out and they did it exactly right. Triple H knows what it’s like to have career threatening injuries and the promo about the dreams that bring people to NXT were fantastic.
I’m happy that Gargano is going to keep his title shot, even if he’s going to have to wait to kick Ciampa’s ass a little longer and the names in the Fatal Five Way are exactly who should be in the picture.
Promos: The first round of promos were pretty standard. I can’t say anyone really jumped out to me as being the star of the segment, but I liked Forgotten Sons keeping the Dusty Rhodes Classic storyline going, even with everything else being kind of topsy-turvy.
Tommaso Ciampa: I’m not a huge Ciampa fan, but it sucks to see any superstar laid up, especially knowing how serious neck injuries are. Hopefully, Ciampa will heal quickly and be raising hell on NXT soon.
More Promos: We got to hear from the contenders of the Fatal Five way. The promos were pretty standard for everyone involved, and nothing really stood out as a pipe bomb.
Sky Pirates: Our THIRD promo segment was about the Fatal Four Way. Bianca Belair’s mental gymnastics game continues to be quite impressive, but it doesn’t change the fact that Io Shirai should be facing Baszler for the title because she earned the shot fair and square, while Belair whined and complained over not getting a rematch she wasn’t owed.
Fatal Five Way: I loved this match SOOO much, it mostly made up for having to sit through a show that was almost nothing but promos. Actually, if the whole show could’ve been this match, I would’ve been happy. I wasn’t even mad that Adam Cole won, even though I was rooting for Aleister Black. Cole and Gargano will have an AMAZING match in New York and I look forward to seeing it!
Overall Thoughts: This was an okay week for WWE on the Road to WrestleMania. RAW hit several potholes, but the other shows did a much better job.
I’m not a fan of petty!Lesnar, but if it means Seth got Lesnar’s attention, so be it.
I find it interesting that the video with the most views was Dean Ambrose coming to Rollins’ aid after RAW went off the air.
SmackDown didn’t have any REAL surprises. I’m not sure who actually thought Vince wouldn’t pull anything in the gauntlet match, but I wasn’t surprised by the outcome. I did love the solidarity between the babyface locker room and New Day, Tuesday will be interesting.
205 and NXT UK were both really good. I love that Tony Nese is the #1 Contender and I’m dying to see the promos between him and Murphy.
Love that Kanellis is FINALLY being taken seriously because he’s a great talent that needs to be utilized better.
I really would like to see whatever show NXT was supposed to be before Ciampa had surgery because an hour long show of four promo segments and ONE match got boring QUICKLY.
Again, this was a good week for WWE, but RAW REALLY needs to straighten up because SmackDown is pulling ahead in terms of WrestleMania building.
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!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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.

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
Chairshot Radio Network
Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts… Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Listen on your favorite platform!
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!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Blog
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

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