Opinion

Andrew’s Top 5 Matches: Week Ending 7/28/2019

Published

6 years ago

July 29, 2019

Another week of G1 Climax and not much on the American front. What’s the Top 5 look like this week?

Once again, we had a very close vote for match of last week. Again, winning by one vote, NJPW G1 Climax Night 6: B Block: Jon Moxley vs Tomohiro Ishii ! Given how much Moxley has intrigued fans and the fact that most of Ishii’s matches are solid material, this isn’t all that surprising.

For Puro fans, this Top 5 will be right up their alley. For WWE fans, tune in next week, unless you’ve been following the G1 Climax. But check out the Honorable Mentions, it wasn’t for lack of trying!

5. NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 9: A Block: SANADA vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

From My Analysis:
So I’ve been fairly critical of Tanahashi’s matches this year, but this was one of his best since coming back from his most recent injury. SANADA is a great opponent to work a deliberate pace with a lot of easy story telling, especially given they have a similar training history. Tanahashi is a Tatsumi Fujinami trainee and SANADA is Mutoh’s student, so everyone is from the Dragon style. Aside from a few hiccups on transitions, this was well wrestled, well paced and Tanahashi countering a Skull End, left the door open for two High Fly Flows and 2 more points.

Winner: Tanahashi via High Fly Flow

Rating: **** 1/4

4. AJPW Summer Action Series Day 8: Triple Crown Championship: Kento Miyahara (c) vs Zeus

So these two have had a great rivalry this past year. Zeus beat Kento for his first title run last July after turning the corner on Kento usually handling him. Kento did win the belt back from Zeus after he won the Royal Road Tournament and has held it since. This is Kento’s sixth defense. Does Zeus avenge his title loss from last October, or does Kento continue to prove why he’s the Ace?

This kept a very similar feeling to their two matches from last year. Lots of explosive moments, big suplexes to the outside and just general signature spots. Zeus does seem to be employing a Bear Hug Suplex and Knee Bar more often than before, but still mostly a hard hitting affair.

Biceps Explosions, Black Outs, counter holds and Kyohei Wada moments make this a very fun and familiar match. Granted, for as good as this match was, it did hearken back a little too much. And I don’t mean callbacks (though there were some), I mean the pacing and timing on big moves felt a lot like the match where Kento got the belt back.

There we go, damn good match, but it didn’t feel like it built up the rivalry and was just another good match by two of the bigger stars in current All Japan.

Winner: Miyahara via Shutdown Suplex Hold

Rating: **** 1/4

3. NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 8: B Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs Tetsuya Naito

From My Analysis:
I think we all assumed being in Hiroshima, which is Naito’s second home town, he wasn’t losing to Ishii. Ishii had a loss to give since he’s 2-1 going into this, and Naito really needs to keep this momentum. As for the match, it was a great match between two guys who never fail to deliver. That’s also not hyperbole, I can’t remember a match between these two being bad. Words don’t really do it great justice, just watch the match. Naito moving his way into the middle of the pack is exactly what he needed though.

Winner: Naito via Destino

Rating: **** 1/4

Honorable Mentions:

NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 9: A Block: Lance Archer vs Kota Ibushi
Winner: Ibushi via Kamigoye
Rating: ****
205 Live: Drew Gulak vs Isaiah Scott
Winner: Gulak via Cyclone Crash
Rating: ****
AJPW Summer Action Series Day 7: World Tag Team Championship Match: Violence Giant (Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama) (c) vs Naoya Nomura & Jake Lee
Winner: Suwama via Last Ride
Rating: ****
IMPACT!: X Division Championship: Jake Crist vs Rich Swann(c)
Winner: Crist via Tornado Cutter
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 8: B Block: Jon Moxley vs Shingo Takagi
Winner: Moxley via Texas Cloverleaf
Rating: *** 3/4
NXT UK: WALTER vs Trent Seven
Winner: WALTER via Referee Stoppage
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 10: B Block: Shingo Takagi vs Jay White
Winner: White via Blade Runner
Rating: *** 3/4
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 9: A Block: Zack Sabre Jr vs EVIL
Winner: EVIL via Everything is Evil
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 10: B Block: Tetsuya Naito vs Jon Moxley
Winner: Moxley via Death Rider
Rating: *** 1/2
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 10: Ren Narita vs Yuya Uemura
Winner: Narita via Belly to Belly Hold
Rating: *** 1/4
IMPACT!: Willie Mack vs Rob Van Dam
Winner: RVD via 5 Star Frog Splash
Rating: *** 1/4
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 9: Jon Moxley & Shota Umino vs Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito
Winner: Takagi via Pumping Bomber
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE SmackDown Live: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Apollo Crews
Winner: Nakamura via Kinshasa
Rating: ***
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 9: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki & Taichi vs Ren Narita, Yota Tsuji & Jeff Cobb
Winner: Kanemaru via Deep Impact
Rating: ***
NXT UK: Kay Lee Ray, Jazzy Gabert & Jinny vs Xia Brookside, Piper Niven & Toni Storm
Winner: Jinny via Draping X Factor
Rating: ***
WWE Smackville: WWE Championship Match: Kofi Kingston(c) vs Dolph Ziggler vs Samoa Joe
Winner: Kofi via Trouble in Paradise
Rating: ***
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 8: B Block: Jeff Cobb vs Jay White
Winner: White via Blade Runner
Rating: ***
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 10: Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Lance Archer & Zack Sabre Jr vs Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI, Will Ospreay & Shota Umino
Winner: Kanemaru via Deep Impact
Rating: ***
NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 8: KENTA, Clark Connors & Karl Fredricks vs YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada & Toa Henare
Winner: YOSHI-HASHI via Butterfly Lock
Rating: ***

2. NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 10: B Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs Juice Robinson

From My Analysis:
Juice started off the tournament strong while Ishii has been sputtering a little bit. This match started off with stiff strikes and just a hard hitting, well paced, insane match. Juice took it to Ishii, maybe in hopes of toughening himself for Moxley later in the tournament, or just because he’s stubborn. Only the second block match of the night, and we may have peaked. Damn, this was a hell of a slobber knocker!

Winner: Ishii via Vertical Drop Brain Buster

Rating: **** 1/2

1. NJPW G1 Climax 29 Night 9: A Block: Kazuchika Okada vs KENTA

From My Analysis:
Aside from being the match between the two A Block leaders, it carried a lot of weight for both men. KENTA is trying to prove he’s still who he was before he went to WWE and Okada is trying to get over a few things. Okada tends to have issues against former NOAH wrestlers and he was tied with Masahiro Chono for most consecutive victories in the G1 Climax. We saw a great match. KENTA pulled out a few Draping Foot Stomps and Draping Knee as well as a Game Over attempt. KENTA was never able to connect with a Go 2 Sleep, so his finish is protected. Numerous counters and just a great match.

Winner: Okada via Rainmaker

Rating: **** 3/4

Thoughts:

So as much as I liked KENTA and Okada, part of the enjoyment and rating came from the story and following both more than many others. SO – with that being said, I’ll give my vote to, Juice Robinson vs Tomohiro Ishii, since that was possibly Juice’s best match. Maybe his New Japan Cup match against Tanahashi is a little better, but this is damn close.

Now vote on your favorite match of the week, and follow the G1 Climax dammit! You’re almost guaranteed a MoTY challenger every night.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

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

Published

2 weeks 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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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month 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