Opinion

Steve Cook: C’mon, Goldberg = Fun!

Steve Cook keeps things simply for you. Goldberg is fun, and that’s why he had his SummerSlam match. This is wrestling…enjoy the ride!

Published

6 years ago

August 13, 2019

Steve Cook

Steve Cook keeps things simply for you. Goldberg is fun, and that’s why he had his SummerSlam match. This is wrestling…enjoy the ride!

Us wrestling fans can be a picky bunch.

We’re very particular about the programming we watch every week. Once we turn our remote control on a certain channel, we expect all kinds of entertainment. We want to be surprised by winners and losers. We don’t want to know what will happen when a wrestler steps out behind the curtain every single week.

One thing that annoys us: Predictability.

As angry as we might get when something we expect to happen doesn’t, we like to be surprised. If the show was the same thing every single week, why would we watch?

We all knew what was going to happen on Sunday night when Goldberg stepped into the ring with Dolph Ziggler. No matter what Dolph tried to do, it was going to end with a spear, a jackhammer & a 1-2-3. It was as predictable as things ever get in WWE.

It was still a hell of a lot of fun.

Be careful what you wish for, @HEELZiggler.#SummerSlam @Goldberg pic.twitter.com/1NlTAxkk3J

— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 11, 2019

I’ll be honest right now: Dolph Ziggler did more to impress me in that match (and post-match) than he has in the past five years. We could probably go even further back than that. Sure, he’s had some rock solid matches and the occasional really good promo here & there, but when has he gotten a reaction for anything similar to the one his match with Goldberg got?

Goldberg’s always been an interesting case. We’re not talking about a guy with a ton of years spent inside a wrestling ring. He started in 1997 & wrestled pretty regularly for the most part until WCW’s closing. He had three matches in Japan in 2002, then spent a year in WWE. WrestleMania XX was his last match until his return in 2016.

Basically, the dude’s spent five years as a professional wrestler. Probably less than that depending on how many matches you think wrestlers should work per year. The Internet Wrestling Database lists him as having 297 career matches, and I doubt they’ve missed all that much.

For comparison’s sake, Matt Riddle has worked approximately 315 matches in his five years in pro wrestling. Riddle has been very outspoken about his views about his fellow wrestlers, including Goldberg. I try to avoid most of this stuff because it’s complete nonsense, but apparently Riddle accused Goldberg of being on steroids and made a big show of being blocked by Goldberg on the Twitter, then crapped all over his match with Undertaker at Jam in the Sand 3. Apparently it was pretty bad, I only watched the clips that appeared in my column at another website.

My take at the time on that whole business: what else did you expect? Undertaker’s at the point in his career where he has to be protected by opponents or tag team partners, and you put him in a singles match with a guy that’s had three singles matches in the last fifteen years? Of course it was going to be a disaster! Expecting anything else would have been pure idiocy. Apparently the bookerman MbS was trafficking in pure idiocy, so both men looked like shit and needed to wash that stink off of them.

Undertaker got it off of him at Extreme Rules by having a kickass tag team match. Now he’s good to go for the next one. Goldberg came out at SummerSlam to destroy Dolph Ziggler, and now he’s good for whatever may come next.

And that pisses some people off.

The success that Bill Goldberg has had in professional wrestling has really made some people angry. He had the luck of being the right person in the right place at the right time. Very few people have that kind of luck. A guy like Matt Riddle with all of the shoot fighting knowledge that he has might have done well in the same spot Goldberg came into…but little Matt was in middle school at that point. And let’s be honest…a long-haired bare-footed easy-going fella wouldn’t have had the same success as a bald-headed monster in the role.

One guy says “Brooooooo”, the other guy says “WHO’S NEXT?”. Who do you think people are more afraid of, regardless of actual fighting background?

Then we got Jack Swagger trying to get over on Goldberg on the social media too. I kind of feel bad for the guy, because he worked over 1,000 matches and was really quite talented, but never got over to the degree that Bill Goldberg did. Even though he could do more moves & stuff, and got a random World title run after getting the MITB briefcase, nobody really cared. I did care at the time, because I saw a lot of potential in the guy.

I was in the minority. That happens pretty often.

As it turned out, Swagger didn’t have that drawing power that kept people interested. Was it all his fault? Probably not. WWE booked him initially as a dude in a Jericho starter-kit, then gave him Bunkhouse Buck as a father for an audience that had no idea who Bunkhouse Buck was. He had a Big Show feud, which was the equivalent of a Baron Corbin feud at the time. I guess, theoretically, more people cared about Big Show, but it led to the same dead end.

The fact of the matter is that Seth Rollins needs a heel to conquer. We don’t have that man at our disposal, but they can’t be that far away. Once we get him, they can draw that house. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

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

Published

23 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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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

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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

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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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: 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