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Chris’s Grades & Analysis For WWE SmackDown Live 7/23/19

Kofi vs Orton at SummerSlam and more from Tuesday’s Smackdown live!

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Randy Orton vs Kofi Kingston WWE SummerSlam 2019

Tonight’s episode Kofi Kingston will find out his SummerSlam opponent, my only question is when will The Viper Strike? Last week Randy Orton pinned the WWE Champion clean. Last but certainly not least, The Best in the World Shane McMahon will address the new thorn in the authority’s side Kevin Owens. Will Owens Stun the boss for a third week in a row? Let’s find out!

Chris’s Grades:

The New Day; Shane McMahon Accepts Kevin Owens’s Challenge:

After weeks of Kevin Owens defying authority and finding a way back into the building after being banned, Owens gets what he wants. It’s amazing to see how Owens has adapted to this role of antihero, and for some reason these two play off each other perfectly.

Grade: B+

 

Shinsuke Nakamura VS Apollo Crews

I can’t remember the last time Apollo looked this impressive, even in defeat he shined. He’s extremely talented and dazzling to watch. If WWE continues building him up, Apollo could be a worthy challenger for Nakamura’s Intercontinental Championship. For the first time in what seems like forever, Nakamura has found new life after capturing the gold. These two have impeccable chemistry, and I’m thrilled to see Apollo finally getting opportunities.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, Grade B+

Special Edition of Miz TV With The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels:

It’s been great to see HBshizzle the last two nights, and he always impresses on the mic. Miz played the role he should have last night with Seth Rollins which helped move things along. Dolph Ziggler needs to go. As much as I appreciate everything he’s done in his career, there’s no real development into his character than his constant whining.

Since Miz doesn’t have a real feud for SummerSlam which is appauling, I guess Miz vs. Ziggler will work for now. I can’t believe how far Miz has fallen since turning babyface for his WrestleMania match against Shane. I thought for sure he would be moved into the Universal or WWE Championship title scene, sadly he’s not even on the pay-per-view card.

Grade: C+

 

Ember Moon VS Charlotte Flair

WWE was wise not to give us this first-ever match on free television, saving it for down the road for an Epic Match! Ember is starting to see Bayley’s tricks, and she’s not going to take it well. Unless Bayley is being positioned as the tweener, could this be a start to a long-awaited heel turn? She’s not acting like a true hugger would! Ember could become a great champion if she’s given the chance to shine.

Winner: Ember Moon, Grade–C+

 

Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton SummerSlam Segment:

And Just Like That, we have a WWE Championship match that is built perfectly! I love that WWE is using the kayfabe conflict between the two from 2010. I had been predicting this feud for months now, ever since their brief encounter in the Elimination Chamber gauntlet match in February. Orton and Kofi could easily steal the show at SummerSlam.

Grade–A

 

Bray Wyatt Accepts Finn Balor’s Challenge For SummerSlam:

I think I speak for many people when I say that the biggest concern for Bray Wyatt/The Fiend, was how creative was going to handle both unique characters when he made his return to TV. Thankfully they’ve booked him perfectly, from surprise attacking Finn to his attack on Mick Foley last night.

This was an excellent segment, and I love that Bray says “The Fiend Remembers!” Finn needs to lose to Bray in his first match and further start the descend for Finn’s inevitable heel turn, after years of mistreatment and his current state of mind.

Grade–A+

 

Charlotte Flair Backstage Interview:

I’ll admit last year during the rise of The Man I was perplexed why she turned heel, only because I felt that she was going to steal Becky Lynch’s thunder. The conceited and entitled Charlotte has always been, and will always fit her personality like a glove.

I thought for sure that her being included in the Bayley/Ember storyline guaranteed her being added to the match, that doesn’t appear to be the case here which is a welcome change. Now it begs the question who will Charlotte face at the biggest party of the summer?

Grade–B

 

Roman Reigns VS Kevin Owens W/Special Guest Referee Drew McIntyre: 

I saw this coming a mile away, Shane was going to come up with a scheme to get his rivals tearing each other apart so he could come in and pick the bones. Too bad his masterplan backfired, and Owens and Reigns joined forces and whooped ass!

I hate to say this but Joe’s leaukamia flare-up was the best thing for his character. Had it not have happened the WWE Universe would not be cheering him to this day, and they would have preferred Owens Stun him also. Instead, Reigns and Owens are antihero badasses who are “Over” with the WWE Universe.

Owens and Shane are set for SummerSlam and it appears that McIntrye and Cedric Alexander are on a collision course. The Big Dog reignited a bitter rivalry with The Samoan Submission Machine last night, does that mean Joe vs. Reigns is happening? We’ll have to wait and see what The Best in the World’s next evil plan is, nobody humiliates the boss and lives to tell about it…well maybe a certain Texas Rattlesnake!

Winner: No Contest,Grade–A

Chris’s Show Grade–B+

Analysis: 

The show opens up with The New Day and they are in an exceptionally good mood, dancing on the announce table and throwing pancakes. That was until the egocentric boss The Best in the World Shane McMahon shuts it down. Shane reflects on the Raw Reunion and said he was thrilled to not see Kevin Owens. Apparently, Owens petitioned for a match at SummerSlam on social media. You can’t have the biggest party of the summer without The Best in the World! Shane accepts his challenge but of course, there’s a catch. If Kevin loses he must quit the WWE in writing!

Owens wastes no time and comes out, he knew Shane would accept the challenge because he wants him gone. Shane wants to hog all the spotlight, Owens isn’t going anywhere because he’s not a broken-down man like he was last year. Owens is ready to fight right now, but Shane says it’s not gonna happen instead he can face Roman Reigns.

Backstage Shane is plotting with Drew McIntyre and Elias, on how to screw both of their enemies. Ala The Corporation from the 1990s tonight’s match will have The Scottish Psychopath as the Special Guest Referee, Elias will be the Special Timekeeper and Shane himself will be the Special Ring Announcer! I smell a tag team forming with two bitter rivals with a common enemy.

Our first match of the evening is the Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura VS Apollo Crews. The bell rings and both competitors circle each other, Nakamura locks in a headlock and Apollo escapes into a shoulder tackle. Apollo lands a stunning hanging suplex and holds Nakamura up for twenty plus seconds. Nakamura gets clotheslined to the outside and Apollo hits a spectacular Moonsault! Back in the ring and Apollo climbs up top, Senton but nobody home. Nakamura goes on the attack with his deadly knee strikes, he blasts Apollo with a knee guillotine. The finish comes after Nakamura hits the Top Shelf Knee in the corner, Apollo lands a pop-up flapjack. He misses a standing shooting star press, Kinshasa 1-2-3

Backstage Mandy Rose has a surprise for Sonya DeVille, she spoke with Shane and now they have an opportunity to qualify for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Sonya is ecstatic!

We are blessed with another stellar vignette of The Heart and Soul of SmackDown Live Mustafa Ali. He gets to rewrite his story, and nobody else will. This is not a woe is me story about going from a cop to a wrestler having to scratch and claw for his title opportunity, and have his body fail him. He’s going to write Ali becomes champion!

Welcome to a Special Edition of Miz TV with none other than…The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels! HBK and Miz talk about how much fun the Raw Reunion was. Michaels says he knows what it’s like to see the part-timers come out and wish they would just leave, but he just couldn’t pass up the chance to celebrate. The Show-off Dolph Ziggler is sick of this, Ziggler hopes that someone puts him out of misery before he overstays his welcome, Miz offers to help with that. Ziggler is actually excited to see HBK because he’s used to idolize him.

HBK broke his heart when he returned in November, and both Ziggler and Michaels agree it was embarrassing. You know what’s worse is working your whole career and giving it your all, and still be left with nothing but being known as “a second-rate, Shawn Michaels wannabe.” This goes on for a while and Miz finally is sick of Ziggler’s whining and crying about how “It should have been him” The WWE Universe wants him to do something, Miz offers Ziggler a free shot, and Ziggler teases leaving then delivered a sucker punch to HBK. It hits Miz and HBK fights him off now, the segment ends with Ziggler laying out Michaels with some “Sweet Chin Music!”

Ember Moon VS Charlotte Flair

This is their first-ever encounter. The bell rings and both women circle each other, Charlotte kicks Embers’s leg and whips her into the corner. Embers handsprings through a hip-toss into an arm-drag. Charlotte gets up and delivers a shoulder tackle and viciously kicks Ember. The SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley wants a front-row seat in the action, and Ember surprises The Queen with a roll-up 1-2-3

Post-Match Attack, Charlotte is pissed and delivers a Big Boot to Bayley, Ember takes Charlotte out with The Eclipse! Bayley’s smiling after her masterplan worked and gets Eclipsed too!

The time has come to find out Kofi Kingston’s challenger for the WWE Championship. A pumped-up Kofi comes out throwing pancakes per usual. The champ is looking past his Smackville title defense this Saturday. He wants The Viper Randy Orton as his SummerSlam opponent, why? Because they have a history that spans ten years. Kofi reminds the WWE Universe about what happened on November 16, 2009, when Orton was about to punt kick Hall of Famer Rowdy Roddy Piper, Kofi made the save. They brawled all over the MSG Arena and Kofi hit a Massive Boom Drop from the rafters through a production table!

Kofi brings up their “kayfabe” beef that Orton halted his main-event push in 2010. If you’re not familiar with that on May 13, 2010, it was Kofi vs. Orton vs. John Cena to become Sheamus’s number-one contender for the WWE Championship. Kofi was supposed to stay down so Orton could punt him and instead got up too early, and Orton hit him with a vicious RKO! After the match, he’s shouting “Stupid, Stupid!” If that’s what Kofi wants for SummerSlam he accepts. He says Kofi wasn’t ready for the spotlight then and even now, he brings up how Kofi only got his opportunity because Ali got injured.

Samoa Joe comes out, he’s not concerned with this conversation he wants to prove he can beat Kofi tonight. Orton is gonna watch as the match starts after the commercial. The bell rings as both competitors tie-up into arm wrenches into counters and more of the same. Kofi’s fired up and tells Joe to bring it! Joe is back on offense and delivers nasty-looking headbutts to slow the champ down. Kofi back up and here’s the comeback, chops and a dropkick sends Joe to the outside. Kofi with a Trust Fall and wipes out Joe! The end of the match occurs as Kofi and Joe are fighting in the corner, and Kofi lands a cross-body and Orton decides to strike! An RKO attempt is avoided by Kofi, but Joe gets in The Viper’s face and gets an RKO! Kofi blasts Orton with a Trouble in Paradise to stand tall!

Next up is Balor Club! Finn Balor returns after The Fiend shockingly attacked two weeks ago. Kayla Braxton is interviewing him, Finn is asked why does he believe he was targeted? He says they have a history but it’s unclear if this settling an old score, or this is something different altogether. Bray Wyatt the man is on the Tron for a new Firefly Funhouse and he says that his friends and he are big fans of his and Bray’s got some good news! He accepts Finn’s challenge for SummerSlam on The Fiend’s behalf. The segment ends with The Fiend looking creepy as hell saying “LET ME IN!”

The Queen has something to say, peasants! Charlotte is disgusted that she had to ask for an interview. She says Bayley’s ploy earlier was a slap in the face, actually being off the SummerSlam card is but she’ll find a way to right that wrong. Charlotte says she was the WOOOMAN behind the Women’s Revolution, and she’ll have a better opponent than Ember Moon and prove that she’s the greatest woman superstar of all time!

It’s main-event time as Kevin Owens will face an old rival Roman Reigns, with McIntrye as the special guest referee, Elias as the timekeeper and Shane as the ring announcer. Shane gives his cronies proper introductions but shafts Owens and Reigns. Before the match starts Owens grabs a mic and tells his SummerSlam opponent, I know what game you’re playing and it doesn’t matter I’ll fight anyone to take you down! Reigns says that’s not gonna happen and he’ll whoop anyone’s ass tonight!

The bell rings as Owens and Reigns tie-up and back up into the corner multiple times and McIntrye makes them break at the five-count. The Scottish Psychopath shoves both competitors, The Big Dog blasts him with an uppercut and Owens takes out Elias. Now the self-proclaimed Best in the World is being chased and halted by the new common enemies. McIntyre saves Shane from Reigns, but Owens assists him. Elias is back in and hits the running knee, to give them the upper hand. McIntyre and Elias hold up Reigns for Shane’s rendition of the Spear. Not so fast Shane as Owen’s trips him and drives him into the barricade.

The Big Dog breaks free, Superkicks to Elias and McIntyre…Spear to McIntrye and the crowd is going nuts! Stunner to Elias as Shane tries to flee, nope SUPERMAN PUNCH INTO A STUNNER! The WWE Universe chants “One More Time!” And so does The Big Dog, Owens brings Shane up…STUNNER! The Big Dog and The Prizefighter stand tall to end the show!

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

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Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

  • AJ – The New Day
  • Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
  • Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
  • DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
  • DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
  • Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
  • Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
  • Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
  • Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
  • Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

  • AJ – Jade Cargill
  • Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
  • Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
  • DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
  • DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
  • Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
  • Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
  • Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
  • Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
  • Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

  • AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
  • Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
  • Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
  • DJ – Jacob Fatu
  • DPP – Jacob Fatu
  • Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
  • Patrick – Jacob Fatu
  • Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
  • Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
  • Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

  • AJ – Tiffany Straton
  • Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
  • Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
  • DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
  • DPP – Tiffany Stratton
  • Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
  • Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
  • Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
  • Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
  • Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

  • AJ – El Grande Americano
  • Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
  • Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
  • DJ – Rey Mysterio
  • DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
  • Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
  • Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
  • Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
  • Rob – El Grande Americano
  • Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

  • AJ – Jey Uso
  • Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
  • Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
  • DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
  • DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
  • Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
  • Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
  • Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
  • Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
  • Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

  • AJ – Roman Reigns
  • Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
  • Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
  • DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
  • DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
  • Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
  • Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
  • Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
  • Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
  • Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

  • AJ – Iyo Sky
  • Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
  • Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
  • DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
  • DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
  • Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
  • Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
  • Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
  • Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
  • Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

  • AJ – Dominik Mysterio
  • Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
  • Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
  • DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
  • DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
  • Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
  • Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
  • Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
  • Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
  • Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

  • AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
  • Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
  • Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
  • DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
  • DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
  • Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
  • Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
  • Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
  • Rob – Damien Priest
  • Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

  • AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
  • Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
  • Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
  • DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
  • DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
  • Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
  • Patrick – Nick Aldis
  • Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
  • Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
  • Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

  • AJ – Logan Paul
  • Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
  • Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
  • DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
  • DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
  • Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
  • Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
  • Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
  • Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
  • Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

  • AJ – Liv & Raquel
  • Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
  • Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
  • DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
  • DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
  • Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
  • Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
  • Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
  • Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
  • Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

  • AJ – Cody Rhodes
  • Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
  • Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
  • DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
  • DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
  • Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
  • Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
  • Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
  • Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
  • Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

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

  • AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
  • Andrew – @IWCWarChief
  • Dave – @AttitudeAgg
  • DJ – @TheMindlessPod
  • DPP – @itsmeDPP
  • Jason – @JediFett
  • Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
  • Rey – @itsreycash
  • Rob – @rbonne1
  • 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

 


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About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR


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!
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DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

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Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!


5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.


4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.


3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…


2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.


1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!


10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

  • Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
    A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.

  • AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
    Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.

  • The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
    “End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.

  • Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
    A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.

  • Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
    The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.

  • Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
    More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.

  • Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
    A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).

  • The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
    Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.

  • Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
    Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.

  • Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
    Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.


Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR


Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand


Powered by RedCircle


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