Opinion
Mcleod: The Simple Storytelling Of Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole
Adam Cole has embraced being an old school heel champion, and it’s opened up a world of possibilities for his feud with Johnny Gargano, according to Scott Mcleod.

Adam Cole has embraced being an old school heel champion, and it’s opened up a world of possibilities for his feud with Johnny Gargano, according to Scott Mcleod.
One of the great things about NXT is the ability to properly showcase the majority of it’s stars despite only being an hour a week. Even only getting a brief glimpse of someone gives all you really need. Two examples of this on NXT this week with a Matt Riddle training montage and the latest installment of Adam Cole’s BAY BAY Championship Celebration Tour.
Last weeks we saw Cole getting on a private jet to defend the title at download but this week was even better. We had Cole going to Gargano’s fathers pizza place where he hangs a picture of himself on the wall before telling the same trainees Gargano tried to inspire in the lead up to Takeover they should give up.
Considering that Gargano and Cole’s first match in New York was very much a last minute thing they’ve turned this it a good story. They did everything they could in the last couple weeks before to make this seem like a main event with men talking about why they deserve to be NXT champion.
Their 2 out of 3 falls match was of course amazing with them building until their third fall with kick outs galore. Cole had a legit claim to a rematch having pinned Gargano clean in the first fall and wanted the him to prove he could beat him in a straight one on one match.
I didn’t think the Takeover 25 match was as good but still a strong match. Given the talent of both men it would be difficult for them to have a bad match. The latter half was especially great with Cole teasing using the Undisputed Era only to take advantage of the leg giving out to pick up the title.
I love the difference in the way both men carry the title with Gargano being a man of the people going back home to try and inspire up incoming wrestlers. Whereas Cole is surrounded by a group and takes a private jet to his title defences. Very similar to when Ric Flair would take on the likes of Dusty Rhodes or Ricky Steamboat.
This something NXT does really well which is building great stories out of simple ideas. A problem I have with most main roster stories is that they go to over the top to find a reason for people to feud rather than two people just don’t like each other.
The main theme of Gargano and Cole’s feud is two men who want to be at the top of NXT and to do so they need to be NXT Champion. However they go about in completely opposite ways which is what puts them at odds and sets them apart from each other. While they both came up through the indies Gargano is proud to work for the title while Cole just expects to be champion.
I’ve gone from not being sure if they should have second match to now I need to see the rubber match after seeing what Cole did this week. Gargano losing the title so soon actually lends to the story as his character is strongest when he’s chasing a title.
What will happen next? Spoilers be damned, we’ll have to stay tuned to see!
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!
Opinion
Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank
Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

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!
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 – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY – POD is WAR (Los Tres Friends)
FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / 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!
Listen on your favorite platform!
iTunes | iHeart Radio | Google Play | Spotify
Listen, like, subscribe, and share!
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!

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
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!
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 – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY – POD is WAR (Los Tres Friends)
FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / 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!
Listen on your favorite platform!
iTunes | iHeart Radio | Google Play | Spotify
Listen, like, subscribe, and share!
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!