Opinion
Week In Review: April 8-17, 2019
WrestleMania fallout! How did this WWE week set up the Superstar Shakeup and the beginnings of how we get to WrestleMania 36?

WrestleMania fallout! How did this WWE week set up the Superstar Shakeup and the beginnings of how we get to WrestleMania 36?
RAW
Seth Rollins: The new Age of Rollins opened with a bang. It’s so great to have a full-time top champion to give RAW direction. I was actually intrigued by the idea of a Title for Title match, but I think most of us knew that the match was going to have to have a non-finish because the men’s division is too large to only one top champion.
The initial match was really good, but the transition to a tag match didn’t surprise me, but it was still good, but it wasn’t what I wanted the last minutes of RAW to be, which I’ll expand on later.
Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins vs Revival: I really hope the Revival are going to SmackDown in the Shakeup because I can’t think of a good reason for them losing to Ryder and Hawkins. Hawkins got his moment, time to let the real tag teams have a go.
Baron Corbin: I think the biggest disappointment of WrestleMania, or at least one of them, was the Corbin vs Angle match, mainly because it actually happened instead of us being saved by John Cena. At least Angle got the last laugh on Corbin, at least until Lars Sullivan finally debuted. I’ve watched Sullivan in NXT and I can’t say he’s been that impressive. We’ll have to see as time goes on.
Alexa Bliss vs Bayley: I have no idea what happened in this match. Bayley certainly deserved better than to be squashed that way because of Alexa, especially when they’ve had longer matches than that.
Becky Lynch: I was actually surprised that neither Ronda Rousey or Charlotte appeared on RAW to confront Becky, but the Man definitely got a conquering hero’s welcome. I’m not impressed with Lacey Evans seeming to get to be Becky’s first feud, but it’s another wait ad see moment, at least the fight was good.
Ricochet and Aleister Black vs Glorious: I really enjoyed this match and Glorious seems to have finally turned heel, but this potentially fabulous feud needs for both teams to be on the same brand to work, hopefully, we’ll get that during the Shakeup.
Dean Ambrose: I HATED this ‘match’! After everything Ambrose has given to RAW and WWE, he should’ve gotten more than that load of nonsense, but the way that went down leaves the door open for Ambrose to come back and take care of Lashley and Rush.
I really wish Ambrose’s farewell address had been aired live so the WWE Universe could say goodbye, but I loved that it was Seth and Roman who said ‘He deserves a proper send-off’. I do think Ambrose will be back in WWE, but he needs a break to recharge his batteries and see if things can be improved in a few months. See you soon, Dean.
The Box: What in the actual hell was that?!
Sami Zayn vs Finn Balor: I’m thrilled that Zayn is back from having both his shoulders worked on, but his promo sounds like what Ambrose would’ve cut if he’d stayed a heel. However, it was a good promo and I like the return of heel!Sami.
I loved the match between Zayn and Balor. If this is Balor’s first feud as Intercontinental Champion, it’ll be a great feud.
Dana Brooke: I’m glad Dana is finally getting some attention and hope she gets a title shot out of this, but I don’t think she’ll be champion.
Elias: I know the return of the Undertaker after missing WrestleMania was supposed to be a surprise, but Elias called his shot when talked about there being hell to pay if he got interrupted again. That said, it was nice to see Undertaker again, even if he couldn’t keep the Streak up, he can still at least help run the yard.
Thoughts: The RAW after WrestleMania is usually the biggest RAW of the year and tends to set the tone for the spring and early summer, and this one was lackluster. The matches were mostly good, except for the Ambrose/Lashley non-match, but there weren’t any really BIG moments to make it memorable, it was just another RAW, but I’m going to guess that after WrestleMania, they decided to give the talent a break.
The fact that there was no talk about Lesnar getting a rematch and Heyman didn’t show up, makes me wonder if the rumors about Lesnar being done with WWE while he prepares for UFC are true.
SmackDown
Kofi Kingston and New Day: I’m so happy for Kofi! After eleven years, he’s finally WWE Champion and I loved how genuinely happy for him New Day was, possibly putting pay to the rumors of a split.
I’m not surprised that the Bar is being inserted here as the strongarms of Vince against Kofi and New Day. I am a little surprised that McIntyre might be going to SmackDown, but if it keeps him out of the title picture, fine.
The six man tag was REALLY good, again putting pay to rumors of a split. I did love that Zayn came out, as if to join the match and decided not to. New Day winning sent the, presumably exhausted, crowd home happy, but you have to wonder what the Shakeup will bring.
Aleister Black, Ricochet, and Mustafa Ali vs Nakamura, Rusev, and Almas: First of all, I LOVED the synchronized sit that Black, Ricochet, and Ali did, that was cool!
The match was really good and everybody look great, I hated Orton ruining things just because he could, but Owens hitting the stunner was even more surprising. I’m still not sure what to make of Owens being a face, but it’s not been awful.
Usos vs The Hardy Boyz: One of the biggest problems with dream matches is that they so very rarely live up to the hype, but the Usos vs the Hardys was a dream match that lived up to the hype. I was a little disappointed that the Usos lost, but that might be paving the way for them to go to RAW.
Lars Sullivan’s appearance was dumb. They’re trying to recreate Lesnar’s initial introduction from 2002, but Sullivan isn’t anywhere near as impressive as Lesnar was.
Samoa Joe and R-Truth: I was actually intrigued by this match up, but less impressed with Strowman showing up, but maybe Joe can get more out of Strowman in a title situation, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
IIconics vs Brooklyn Bellas: So, the IIconics had their first title defense against some local team, and I can’t say it was stellar. The Brooklyn Bellas were apparently undefeated in the local wrestling scene, so they definitely weren’t something to sneeze at, but I feel a little sad that their first loss was to a team that really didn’t need it.
Paige’s comments on the match were definitely interesting. It sounds like she’s bringing in a brand new tag team to face the IIconics and I’m interested to see who it is because Sky Pirates are the only thing close to an actual tag team in NXT, and if it is them, I’ll be super happy for them.
Shane McMahon: This segment was weird. It was almost like Shane and Miz switched personalities with Shane becoming the douchebag. I felt back for Greg Hamilton and I keep waiting for the interviewers to finally snap and turn on the wrestlers that give them so much grief.
Becky Lynch: Well, it seems that Becky’s official first feud will be Lacey Evans. I can’t say I’ve been impressed with Evans after I watched several of her matches in NXT, but this is Lynch’s first big feud away from Charlotte and I hope she really gets the chance to shine in this.
205 Live
Humberto Carrillo vs Jack Gallagher: Well, that got ugly in a hurry. I knew where this storyline was going, but I wasn’t expecting it to break down that quickly. Gallagher and Carrillo had a fantastic match, and it had the expected outcome that Carrillo sticking to the style he’s comfortable with and that works for him won out over Gallagher. Gulak’s reaction wasn’t a shock, but Gallagher’s reaction was. It looks like the Party of Gulak is about to become a party of one, but we’ll see next week.
Tony Nese and Buddy Murphy: Those promos were better than I’d expected. Murphy didn’t try to discredit Nese’s win, or make excuses, so that was nice to hear. Nese didn’t try to demur from giving Murphy his rematch, which is definitely different from most champions.
I was actually surprised that Maverick allowed the rematch to happen that week, since the usual MO is to wait a few weeks, but since Nese and Murphy are both heels, I guess there was no need to wait. The match was every bit as fantastic as the one at WrestleMania, and Nese retained, which was a serious surprise to me. I have no idea what will happen with this feud but I have a feeling Murphy’s not going to give up that quickly.
Drake Maverick and Oney Lorcan: This segment killed two birds with one stone: We got a great promo segment between Alexander and Lorcan, and we found out that Alexander will get his rematch next week. We also got a hint about Alexander possibly being called up, which should be interesting, depending on where he goes.
NXT UK
Travis Banks vs Kassius Ohno: The Kiwi Buzzsaw and the Knockout Artist finally met up and it was a really great match. Even though Ohno’s hanging his hat in NXT UK, but that doesn’t mean the neighbors are going to make things easy. Guess the Wrestling Genius needs to go back to the drawing board.
Jordan Devlin: I’m a big Jordan Devlin fan and I’m really hopeful that he’ll get the match against WALTER, but I think he’s going to have to wait until after Dunne gets his rematch.
Piper Niven vs Killer Kelly: Piper Niven certainly made an impact in her debut, scaring Rhea Ripley out of the ring, though Ripley denied it. Niven had a chance to back up her debut against the scrappy Killer Kelly and she took it. It was a great match and Niven really showed why she has been such a dominate force in the British indie scene. Kelly showed a lot of fight, but ultimately, Niven was too powerful and picked up her first win.
Ripley, still embarrassed that she let herself be scared out of the ring, tried to re-establish herself as the alpha female, but Niven wasn’t backing down. I can’t wait to see this match when it happens.
Mustache Mountain: In an interview from last week, Mustache Mountain announced that they’ll be facing off against Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster in a friendly match, but I have a feeling that the ‘friendly match’ isn’t going to be all that friendly in the end.
Grizzled Young Veterans: I’m glad GYV is finally going to be getting some screen time as champs, even if their proposed match isn’t for the titles and they don’t want Yanks involved, which will be quite a challenge at Axxess in New York City.
Jack Starz vs Joseph Conners: Jack Starz is one of those people that never gives up, even when he should, and this week was a prime example of it. Starz got his clock cleaned, but Starz didn’t give up, but the real story is Conners acting goofy as a pet coon, as JR would say. This story should be…interesting.
Dave Mastiff: I’m not sure what to make of this promo other than Mastiff has some Daddy issues, but I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
Toni Storm vs Jinny: For weeks, Jinny has been running her mouth about how she deserved to be Women’s Champion, not Toni Storm, and Toni Storm shut her this week. The match was pretty good, but the spoiled brat learned that it’s not easy to take the crown and her temper is what cost her the title. Storm stands tall, next contestant.
NXT
Post TakeOver Footage: These were pretty standard promos, but there were several interesting things going on. One is the return of Buddy Murphy to NXT in a potential feud with Velveteen Dream for the North American title, which looks really fun.
Shayna Baszler looked supremely confident after she managed to keep her NXT Women’s Championship, but who will be the woman to beat her once and for all.
Pete Dunne was not happy about the end of his historic UK Championship reign, but he’s already promising a rematch. Guess Devlin will just have to wait his turn.
There is definitely trouble in the Undisputed Era camp after Cole lost to Johnny Gargano at TakeOver and it seems that Cole is wanting to blame Strong for ‘going off script’, whatever that means. Guess the thought that Gargano was just…better isn’t a thought right now.
Candice LeRae vs Aliyah: I was really excited for this match, I love Aliyah and think she really should be featured more often, and this match shows why. Both ladies really shined in this match I wasn’t surprised that Candice won, but I was disappointed Aliyah lost since it looked like they were building her up for something, maybe she and Borne will be the new tag team Paige is bringing in.
Danny Burch vs Jaxson Ryker: The Forgotten Sons have been on quite a tear lately, lead by Ryker, but he faced quite a battle with Burch, who is quite a tough customer. It was a really good match, but, to my surprise, Ryker managed to pull out the win, but Lorcan beating the snot out of them, even temporarily, was fun, but with Lorcan in 205 Live, it’s not clear how much longer Burch and Lorcan will be around.
Street Profits vs European Alliance: This was a really great match that let both teams show off their skills. Aichner and Barthel have really improved since their initial team up, but the Street Profits had the advantage of experience and it showed in their win.
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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.

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
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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)
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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!
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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)
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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!