Opinion

Andrew’s Top 5 Matches: Week Ending 6/2/2019

Takeover XXV, the A Block finals of BOSJ and whatever else there was time for! What made the Top 5 Matches this week?

Published

6 years ago

June 3, 2019

Andrew Balaz

Takeover XXV, the A Block finals of BOSJ and whatever else there was time for! What made the Top 5 Matches this week?

There really isn’t enough time in the week for all of the events that go on in the wrestling world. But some of the bigger points got hit this week!

As for last week, come on now, Dustin Rhodes vs Cody Rhodes from Double or Nothing, was the match of the week. This does make for an interesting vote for our MoTY May Pool!

AJPW Champion Carnival Finals: Kento Miyahara vs Jake Lee
MPACT: oVe Rules 8 Man: oVe vs Tommy Dreamer vs Fallah Bahh vs Rich Swann vs Willie Mack
WWE MiTB: Universal Championship: AJ Styles vs Seth Rollins (c)
AEW DoN: Dustin Rhodes vs Cody Rhodes

See it’s month’s like this that make wrestling fun. Four different companies, and really, four different styles of match. My vote has to go to Brother vs Brother, because Megadeth’s Holy Wars is a great song.

No? Fine, if you read my previous matches article, you’d know Cody versus Dustin is my personal Match of the Year.

Now let’s see what this week gives us!

5. Impact: Johnny Impact & Michael Elgin vs Rich Swann & Willie Mack

From My Analysis:
Not a bad tag team main event at all! Constant action, great big moves from everyone…and then we see the heels do heel stuff. A few miscommunications annoyed Elgin to the point of just walking away from the match. Swann takes advantage of the fissure, hits a Lethal Injection, into a 450 for a win to keep his momentum.

Winner: Swann via 450 Splash

Rating: *** 3/4

4. NXT Takeover XXV: Roderick Strong vs Matt Riddle

From My Analysis:
The match built slowly, which allowed Roddy a few opportunities to land a myriad of back breakers. Working over the back came into play at numerous points during the match, making Riddle unable to pull off certain moves. Hell, Riddle couldn’t hold the Bromission, which gave Roddy a glimmer of hope towards the end, but Riddle pulls out the Cradle Tombstone Piledriver, which I haven’t seen him use lately. Good match when all was said and done, plus it got the crowd going within the last few minutes.

Winner: Riddle via Bro Derek

Rating: ****

3. NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 12: DOUKI vs Will Ospreay

Given the fact I haven’t been able to really sit down and watch all of the BOSJ matches and have only been picking and choosing, Douki put on a hell of match. He’s got great flexibility and mixed Lucha Libre style with Japanese Junior Heavyweight style very well. His flexibility is also very hard to argue.

A nice wrinkle through this match was Taichi’s interference since he was at commentary. It didn’t play a big part, so instead of detracting from the storytelling, it actually seemed to help. DOUKI had a few close calls, a big near fall with a Gory Backbreaker, that he brings them down as he does a split and then does a backslide to go into he pin. Very cool moves, but Ospreay is just too much.

Winner: Ospreay via Stormbreaker

Rating: ****

Honorable Mentions:

NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 12: Bandido vs Robbie Eagles
Winner: Bandido via Moonsault Press
Rating: *** 1/2
NXT Takeover XXV: NXT North American Title: Tyler Breeze vs Velveteen Dream (c)
Winner: Dream via Purple Rainmaker
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 13: Dragon Lee vs Marty Scurll
Winner: Dragon via Desnucadora
Rating: *** 1/2
NXT: Mia Yim vs Bianca Belair
Winner: Yim via Protect Yo Neck
Rating: *** 1/2
WWE Raw: Seth Rollins vs Sami Zayn
Winner: Rollins via Stomp
Rating: *** 1/4
NXT Takeover XXV: NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler (c) vs Io Shirai
Winner: Baszler via Kirifuda Clutch
Rating: *** 1/4
NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 12: Ren Narita vs YOH
Winner: YOH via Calf Crusher
Rating: *** 1/4
SmackDown Live: Kofi Kingston vs Kevin Owens
Winner: Kofi via Trouble in Paradise
Rating: *** 1/4
Impact: Street Fight: Killer Kross vs Eddie Edwards
Winner: Edwards via Boston Knee Party
Rating: *** 1/4
NXT: Drew Gulak vs Kushida
Winner: Kushida via Gedo Clutch
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: Cesaro vs Ricochet
Winner: Ricochet via Hurricanrana
Rating: *** 1/4
NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 13: SHO vs Jonathan Gresham
Winner: SHO via Shock Arrow
Rating: ***
WWE Raw: Number 1 Contender for Universal Title Elimination Match: Baron Corbin vs The Miz vs Bobby Lashley vs Braun Strowman
Winner: Corbin via End of Days
Rating: ***
NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 12: Rocky Romero vs BUSHI
Winner: BUSHI via MX
Rating: ***
SmackDown Live: Roman Reigns & R-Truth vs Elias & Drew McIntyre
Winner: Reigns via Spear
Rating: ***
NXT Takeover XXV: NXT Tag Team Championship 4 Way Ladder Match
Winner: Street Profits
Rating: ***
Impact: Moose & The North vs RVD, Sabu & Tommy Dreamer
Winner: RVD via 5 Star Frog Splash
Rating: ***

2. NXT Takeover XXV: NXT Championship: Johnny Gargano (c) vs Adam Cole

Snippet from Mitchell’s Coverage:
Cole argues with the ref, and goes to the outside. He gets a chair! The ref tells Cole to drop the chair but Cole doesn’t care. So the ref grabs the chair, only for Gargano to DIVE! But Gargano gets the ref instead of Cole! And now, Cole swings! But Gargano dodges and SUPERKICKS the chair into Cole’s face! Gargano puts Cole in the ring and covers, but the ref is out! The fans count past 10 but it doesn’t matter because the ref has to do it. Gargano hobbles to help the ref, but of course Cole has help of his own. Cole waves, and Gargano prepares for the Undisputed Era. But when the Era doesn’t appear, Gargano goes to the ring. Cole gets Gargano with a draping piledriver!! Cover, TWO?!? Cole is at his wit’s end. But fans know “This is Awesome!”

Cole sits Gargano up and runs, but Gargano just flops over. Gargano denies Last Shot just by not being able to do anything. Cole makes Gargano sit up again, but gets caught in GargaNO Escape! And Gargano uses his own leg to prop up the other! Cole crawls for ropes but Gargano rolls him away! Cole elbows the bad leg over and over and over until he’s free! He mule kicks the leg over and over, then hosp up again, PANAMA- Gargano sits down! TWO, roll, and Gargano can’t get up. PANAMA SUNRISE!! LAST, SHOT!! Cover, Cole wins!!

Winner: Cole via Last Shot

Rating: **** 1/4

1. NJPW BOSJ 26 Night 13: Shingo Takagi vs Taiji Ishimori

This match was for the A block. Shingo’s perfect record, and Taiji had only one loss. A match between two journeymen, Taiji from Pro Wrestling NOAH and Shingo making his name in Dragon Gate. What comes from this dream match up?

Just, wow. Both took it to one another with hard quick strikes. Ishimori’s speed was his greatest asset and Shingo’s power has kept him ahead of the pack. Ishimori pulled off great moments, a snap Hurricanrana, his Sliding Middle Rope German Suplex, and most of his signature stuff, just everything felt like it mattered a little more.

The finish was different since Ishimori had all the moment, went for Bloody Cross, Shingo blocked and just powered Ishimori into Last of the Dragon position, and landed his finish for the pinfall. So Shingo becomes the first person to have a perfect record in block. LIJ’s dragon is damn impressive.

Winner: Takagi via Last of the Dragon

Rating: **** 1/2

Thoughts:

Shingo was always a favorite of mine. He was one of the main reasons I even pretended to care about Dragon Gate in the last few years, his participation in last year’s Champion Carnival was a treat, and now that he’s in New Japan…I’m just giddy. Yes, this is all leading to me picking Shingo vs Taiji as the match of the week, and it’s not even really close.

So there we go. Let’s here your opinion on the month of May and this week’s matches!

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

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

Published

16 hours ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

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

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

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

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

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

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

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Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

4 weeks ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

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

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

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

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

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

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

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

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

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

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

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

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

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

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

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

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1